Ballistic fingerprinting doesn't prevent or help solve crimes

Maryland's law requiring ballistic fingerprinting of all firearms has been a complete failure at preventing or solving any crimes (via SayUncle, via Glenn):

A report by the Maryland State Police that recommends repeal of a law requiring collection of ballistic imaging information "shatters one of the favorite myths of gun control extremists," the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) said today.

So far, Maryland has spent $2.5 million over the past four years, with nothing to show for it. The report admitted, "Guns found to be used in the commission of crime...are not the ones being entered into" the system.

Duh.

It also turns out NY has a similar law, which has also been completely useless:

"Our congratulations to Gov. Robert Ehrlich's administration for having released this information," said CCRKBA Executive Director Joe Waldron. "Since the Maryland research also reveals that the same program in New York State has produced not a single trace that has led to the solution of a crime, we think Gov. George Pataki ought to consider scrapping the Empire State's program as well, saving taxpayers there about $4 million dollars annually."

"By admission of the Maryland State Police, ballistic imaging doesn't work, and appears to be a waste of money," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "Technicians with the California Department of Justice said as much two years ago.

And, this article gets at the obvious reason why these ballistic fingerprinting laws existed in the first place:

Extremist gun control groups supported this requirement because it amounts to a de facto gun registry in the guise of a crime-fighting tool.

["]The Citizen's Committee and other gun rights groups have been saying all along that ballistic imaging was a fraud as a crime-prevention tool, and now it's also being proven as an ineffective crime-solving tool[", Gottlieb said].

"Taxpayers in every state have a right to know about the Maryland report," Gottlieb stated, "because gun control zealots have pushed similar programs in many state legislatures. Taxpayers expect to have their money wisely spent on genuine anti-crime measures, not some boondoggle that amounts to gun registration by another name."

Update: Kevin has an enormous post about this.

Permalink | 10 Comments | Tags: Opinions/Politics | id 6402

08:02 (utc-5)
edited: 2005-01-15 05:27 (utc-5)