sm
member
California Bill Requires Ammunition Tagging
http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/InTheNews.aspx?ID=7543
Read About It: The Tribune
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The Tribune
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/nation/14451081.htm
California bill seeks to require guns to tag ammunition
BY REBECCA ROSEN LUM
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - California could become the first state in the nation to require semi-automatic handguns include microscopic equipment for pressing an identifying mark into every bullet fired.
Through newly developed technology, the firing pin of a semi-automatic weapon can stamp the gun's make and model onto a bullet shell as it leaves the chamber. The technology could help police investigate homicides and trace gun trafficking.
Thirty-three California police chiefs support a bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, a West Hollywood Democrat, that would require the markers.
"It has the potential to solve some significant crimes in some pretty large numbers," Koretz said in a telephone interview.
Officers could quickly match the casing numbers to weapons on a state gun sales database maintained by the California Department of Justice.
It's the second go-round for the bill, which passed the Assembly easily last year but was defeated in the Senate. This year, the votes are there, Koretz said.
Nearly 1,800 Californians lost their lives to gun violence in 2004, according to the state Department of Justice. But police make arrests in only 55 percent of homicides due to the lack of sufficient evidence.
Sam Paredes, director of the 30,000-member California Gun Owners Association, said proponents of the bill are engaging in "a lot of wishful thinking" if they believe mandating the technology will turn that around.
"All it takes is a few swipes (on the pin) with a sandpaper or nail file, and (the marker) is gone," he said.
He called the technology "laughable," saying trigger-happy criminals could outwit police investigators by picking up spent shells at a shooting range and sprinkling them at a crime scene.
That drew a big laugh from Todd Lizotte, who developed the technology for use in laser printers while he was vice president of NanoVia, a semiconductor and microelectronic equipment manufacturer bought by Hitachi in 2003.
There's nothing stopping perpetrators of gun violence from doing that now, he said.
"The truth is, nobody ever does that," he said. "When people talk about these issues, they tend to raise the common criminal up to the level of criminal mastermind and the police down to the level of (cartoon character) Wile E. Coyote."
The pin is nearly as hard as a diamond, he said. In addition, the markers on the pin are invisible to the naked eye.
The technology expands on the incidental markings that already appear on cartridge casings, Lizotte said. "Instead of relying on randomly created marks, we're placing an identifier specific to that firearm."
Hitachi acquired NanoVia, but not its ballistic imaging component. That went to ID Dynamics, a holding company founded by Lizotte and his partners.
An Assembly revote is being held up while Koretz and Assemblyman Jay La Suer, a San Diego Republican and the bill's chief critic, agree on a date for a demonstration.
"I told him if they're able to file (the pin) down, I'll halt the bill," Koretz said. "My understanding of the technology is that it's pretty foolproof."
The bill has the support of state Attorney General Bill Lockyer and police chiefs from Los Angeles. Also supporting the bill are police chiefs from four cities in Alameda County and six cities in Contra Costa County. The Alameda County Sheriff also supports the bill.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not comment on pending bills, a spokeswoman said.
Parendes of the Gun Owners Association said the bill "doesn't stand the chance of a snowball in the deep, dark center of the earth."
Meanwhile, a growing number of cities and counties are voting on resolutions supporting the bill. One in Contra Costa County, sponsored by Supervisors John Gioia of Richmond and Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, squeaked by in a 3-2 vote April 11.
Supervisor Gayle Uilkema of Lafayette said the bill amounts to an unfunded state mandate with counties left to pick up the costs. But the bill's supporters say there are no costs to local government.
Outfitting new guns will cost the manufacturers 25 cents to 50 cents per firearm, Lizotte said. More than 70 percent of new handguns sold in California are semi-automatic.
"I question people who opposed something so straightforward," said Griffin Dix, California state council president of the Million Mom March. "You can put an identifying number on every container of yogurt you sell, but not on a gun?"
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My comment : I tease, rib and all with folks in CA, mostly off public forum. In return I get ribbed for having a southern drawl and such.
This thread will be civil will it not?
We have to stand united on RKBA, even in efforts in other jurisdictions, or other states.
CA - Allow me to be so forward to remind you of just two CA THR members who gave of themselves to assist others - and not neccessarily in CA local jurisdiction or in CA.
1) Skunk was in NOLA doing volunteer work.
2) Jim March actually was charged with a felony in fighting for how voting was done , and results tallied. [Jim is okay, charges dropped
] Same /similar software, is used around the US.
Just two of many CA members, who have assited a LOT of folks in other areas.
My suggestion instead of wasting Oleg's bandwith by posting a bash, or uncivil reply...
Use the computer and Internet to find out how you can help the folks in CA.
Too many members not in CA already appreciate asssistance from CA folks.
Hedging off similar legislation now in CA, may mean you will not need assistance when legislation like this introduced in YOUR area.
Steve
http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/InTheNews.aspx?ID=7543
Read About It: The Tribune
--
The Tribune
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/nation/14451081.htm
California bill seeks to require guns to tag ammunition
BY REBECCA ROSEN LUM
Knight Ridder Newspapers
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - California could become the first state in the nation to require semi-automatic handguns include microscopic equipment for pressing an identifying mark into every bullet fired.
Through newly developed technology, the firing pin of a semi-automatic weapon can stamp the gun's make and model onto a bullet shell as it leaves the chamber. The technology could help police investigate homicides and trace gun trafficking.
Thirty-three California police chiefs support a bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, a West Hollywood Democrat, that would require the markers.
"It has the potential to solve some significant crimes in some pretty large numbers," Koretz said in a telephone interview.
Officers could quickly match the casing numbers to weapons on a state gun sales database maintained by the California Department of Justice.
It's the second go-round for the bill, which passed the Assembly easily last year but was defeated in the Senate. This year, the votes are there, Koretz said.
Nearly 1,800 Californians lost their lives to gun violence in 2004, according to the state Department of Justice. But police make arrests in only 55 percent of homicides due to the lack of sufficient evidence.
Sam Paredes, director of the 30,000-member California Gun Owners Association, said proponents of the bill are engaging in "a lot of wishful thinking" if they believe mandating the technology will turn that around.
"All it takes is a few swipes (on the pin) with a sandpaper or nail file, and (the marker) is gone," he said.
He called the technology "laughable," saying trigger-happy criminals could outwit police investigators by picking up spent shells at a shooting range and sprinkling them at a crime scene.
That drew a big laugh from Todd Lizotte, who developed the technology for use in laser printers while he was vice president of NanoVia, a semiconductor and microelectronic equipment manufacturer bought by Hitachi in 2003.
There's nothing stopping perpetrators of gun violence from doing that now, he said.
"The truth is, nobody ever does that," he said. "When people talk about these issues, they tend to raise the common criminal up to the level of criminal mastermind and the police down to the level of (cartoon character) Wile E. Coyote."
The pin is nearly as hard as a diamond, he said. In addition, the markers on the pin are invisible to the naked eye.
The technology expands on the incidental markings that already appear on cartridge casings, Lizotte said. "Instead of relying on randomly created marks, we're placing an identifier specific to that firearm."
Hitachi acquired NanoVia, but not its ballistic imaging component. That went to ID Dynamics, a holding company founded by Lizotte and his partners.
An Assembly revote is being held up while Koretz and Assemblyman Jay La Suer, a San Diego Republican and the bill's chief critic, agree on a date for a demonstration.
"I told him if they're able to file (the pin) down, I'll halt the bill," Koretz said. "My understanding of the technology is that it's pretty foolproof."
The bill has the support of state Attorney General Bill Lockyer and police chiefs from Los Angeles. Also supporting the bill are police chiefs from four cities in Alameda County and six cities in Contra Costa County. The Alameda County Sheriff also supports the bill.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger does not comment on pending bills, a spokeswoman said.
Parendes of the Gun Owners Association said the bill "doesn't stand the chance of a snowball in the deep, dark center of the earth."
Meanwhile, a growing number of cities and counties are voting on resolutions supporting the bill. One in Contra Costa County, sponsored by Supervisors John Gioia of Richmond and Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, squeaked by in a 3-2 vote April 11.
Supervisor Gayle Uilkema of Lafayette said the bill amounts to an unfunded state mandate with counties left to pick up the costs. But the bill's supporters say there are no costs to local government.
Outfitting new guns will cost the manufacturers 25 cents to 50 cents per firearm, Lizotte said. More than 70 percent of new handguns sold in California are semi-automatic.
"I question people who opposed something so straightforward," said Griffin Dix, California state council president of the Million Mom March. "You can put an identifying number on every container of yogurt you sell, but not on a gun?"
---
My comment : I tease, rib and all with folks in CA, mostly off public forum. In return I get ribbed for having a southern drawl and such.
This thread will be civil will it not?
We have to stand united on RKBA, even in efforts in other jurisdictions, or other states.
CA - Allow me to be so forward to remind you of just two CA THR members who gave of themselves to assist others - and not neccessarily in CA local jurisdiction or in CA.
1) Skunk was in NOLA doing volunteer work.
2) Jim March actually was charged with a felony in fighting for how voting was done , and results tallied. [Jim is okay, charges dropped
] Same /similar software, is used around the US.Just two of many CA members, who have assited a LOT of folks in other areas.
My suggestion instead of wasting Oleg's bandwith by posting a bash, or uncivil reply...
Use the computer and Internet to find out how you can help the folks in CA.
Too many members not in CA already appreciate asssistance from CA folks.
Hedging off similar legislation now in CA, may mean you will not need assistance when legislation like this introduced in YOUR area.
Steve
