Well, with little surprise, microstamping is back on the agenda in Albany. This time, because the vote in the Assembly has continued to show a decline in support session after session, the pro-microstamping (spelled, ANTI-GUN) forces are trying to attach it to the Governor's budget bill.
You don't know what microstamping is? In the simplest terms, it’s a unique serial number embedded in the head of the firing pin of a semi-automatic handgun. This serial number is then imprinted on each primer of each shell that is fired from the gun. The idea is that spent casings can be picked up at a crime scene, and then the gun can be traced back to the owner.
Sounds good in theory. But, in reality it’s just another scheme for anti-gun proponents to take away more guns from law abiding citizens. How would they take them away? Well, every gun manufacturer has stated that it will not try to rebuild their factory to comply with NY's microstamping requirements. They simply will not sell guns in New York State.
Why doesn't microstamping work? First, many guns used in crimes are stolen or from out of state. So, the unique serial number on spent cartridges will tell us what? Who “used to legally own” the gun, not who committed the crime. Secondly, New York is the only state in the nation trying to pass this. Thus, a stolen gun from Alabama would not have any imprinting, and defeat the purpose of microstamping guns bought in NYS. Thirdly, the imprint is so small, with very little depth that a simple file can erase the number off the firing pin in a matter of seconds. Fourth, firing pins can be easily changed, allowing any perpetrator to override the imprinting if he so desired. Fifth, since revolvers don't expel casings automatically as semi-automatics do, microstamping them (about 30 percent of handguns sold in NYS) would be useless. Finally, microstamping in theory is akin to the CoBIS program that collected shell casings from new guns before their purchase and stored data with the State Police to be used as a crime solving tool. The fact is, the CoBIS “fingerprinting” was never used to solve one crime in NYS. Since its inception in March 2001, a total 311,859 (as of March 2011) shell casings have been cataloged at an estimated cost of $4 million dollars per year. Yep, that is now over 40 million dollars wasted!
Anyhow, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association in a statement released this week said it “would like to correct the gross misstatements made by Senator Jose Peralta in his letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding his proposed firearms microstamping bill S-675B.”
First, there is not a single independent study demonstrating the technology actually works. Several studies, including those done by the Suffolk County Crime Lab in Hauppauge and the University of California, Davis, conclude the technology does not work. Sen. Peralta has no basis for claiming “microstamped characters have been shown to transfer perfectly up to 95 percent of the time.”
Second, Sen. Peralta's bill explicitly states that “microstamp-ready” firearms must put unique codes on spent cartridge cases on at least two places. The one and only way to comply with this would be a total redesign of all pistols made over the past 120 years, assuming that is even possible as the only place to make the second marking is inside the chamber when the round is fired making it difficult, if not impossible, for a gun to function properly. Sen. Peralta's statement that “microstamping may cost as little as “$.50 per gun” is equivalent to saying that pigs could fly if only they'd grow wings.
NYSRPA President Tom King commented, “I would ask you to write or call your assemblyperson and senator demanding that microstamping not be included in the budget and if it is to vote against it.”
I agree, let your feelings be known.
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The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame proudly announces that it will induct nine new members at the Annual Banquet, April 28, 2012 in Canastota. The nine individuals represent a cross section of interests and achievements from various regions of New York State. What they do have in common is a lifetime of dedication to conservation and improving participation in outdoor sports. Inductees are Steve Alstadt of Colden in Erie County; Robert “Rodge” Case (posthumously) of Canandaigua; Scott Corbett, a DEC Fisheries biologist from Allegany; Mike Cusano of Clay; Joe Fischer of Cheektowaga in Erie County; George Granger of Naples; John Jeanneney of Albany County; Bob Kazmierski of Johnstown; and Randy Opferbeck of Cattaraugus County.
Guests and interested sportsmen are encouraged to attend. Information or reservations are available by calling (315)-363-3896 or (315)-829-3588 by April 21. In addition to honoring sportsmen and women for preserving or enhancing our outdoor heritage, the NYS Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame is involved in many other educational activities including seminars, fishing clinics, or youth programs. Check the web site www.nysohof.org for more information.
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