T G D A  N E W S L E T T E R

The truth about ballistic fingerprinting

Is this “Ballistic DNA” or “Ballistic Fingerprinting”?

Unlike DNA or fingerprints that do not change over time, the unique marks that can identify a particular bullet or shell casing change due to a number of environmental and use factors.  Barrels and operating parts of firearms change with use, wear and tear over time.  Moreover, a person can, within minutes, use a file to scratch marks in a barrel or breech face, or replace a firing pin, extractor, and barrel thereby giving a firearm a completely “new” ballistic identity.  Imaging remains a tool, but not a silver bullet, in criminal investigations.

What about a National Ballistic Imaging Database?

The creation of a national database that would store ballistic images from all firearms sold would involve huge costs to the government, firearms manufacturers, and customers.  It raises questions about a legal “chain of evidence” (i.e., how to handle and store hundreds of millions of bullets or shell casings without exposing all such evidence to attack by defense lawyers), possible break existing law by creating a database of legal firearms owners, and prove much less effective than NIBIN.

A recent study completed by the California Department of Forensic Services on creating a statewide ballistic imaging network stated that:  “When applying this technology to the concept of mass sampling of manufactured firearms, a huge inventory of potential candidates will be generated for manual review.  This study indicates that this number of candidate cases will be so large as to be impractical and will likely create logistic complications so great that they can not be effectively addressed.”  The study pointed out that when expanding the database of spent shell casings, the system will generate so many “hits” that could be potential matches, it would not be of any use to forensic examiners.  Other problems included guns making different markings on casings from different ammunition manufacturers; the shipping, handling, and storage of spent shell casings; some firearms do not leave marks that can be traced back to that particular firearm; and the system demands highly-trained personnel for proper operation.

Maryland and New York Ballistic Imaging Programs

Maryland introduced its own ballistic imaging system in 2000.  Every new handgun that is sold in the state must be accompanied by spent shell casings for input into the imaging network.  According to Maryland budget figures, approximately $5 million has been spent on the system.  According to Maryland law enforcement officials, it contains over 11,000 imaged cartridges, has been queried a total of 155 times and has not been responsible for solving any crimes. In New York, there have been thousands of cartridges entered into their database and, according to reports, no traces have resulted in criminal prosecutions.

Guns in Private Hands

There are an estimated 260 million firearms in private hands.  It would be virtually impossible to retrieve these firearms for ballistics documentation without violating the constitutional rights of millions of law abiding firearms owners.