In addition, beginning January 1, 2013, a manufacturer transferring a pistol to a firearms dealer for sale in the District will be required to certify whether the pistol was manufactured on or after January 1, 2016, and, if it was, that: •
The pistol will produce a unique alpha-numeric code or a geometric code on each cartridge case that identifies the make, model, and serial number of the semiautomatic pistol that expended the cartridge case; and
•
The manufacturer will supply the Chief of Police with the make, model, and serial number of the pistol that expended the cartridge case, when presented with an alpha-numeric or geometric code from a cartridge case, provided that the cartridge case was recovered as part of a legitimate law enforcement investigation. 17
2.
Traditional Ballistic Identification Requirements:
Maryland: Maryland requires manufacturers to test-fire all handguns shipped into the state after October 1, 2000, and provide a spent cartridge case to the purchasing firearms dealer. Once the gun is sold, the dealer must forward the cartridge case to the state police, who then enter its unique markings in a database for possible use in future criminal investigations.18 Connecticut: Connecticut requires the Division of Scientific Services (“Division”) of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to establish a firearms evidence databank. The databank is a computer-based system that stores images of fired components of ammunition in a manner suitable for retrieval and comparison to images of other fired components of ammunition stored in the databank. Handguns recovered by police through a criminal investigation may be submitted to the Division laboratory for test firing and collection of fired components of ammunition. Police departments are also required to submit all handguns issued to employees for test firing and collect fired components of ammunition from the test fire. 19 New York repealed its ballistic identification requirements in 2012.20 FEATURES OF COMPREHENSIVE LAWS REGARDING MICROSTAMPING AND BALLISTIC IDENTIFICATION The features listed below are intended to provide a framework from which policy options may be debated. A jurisdiction considering new legislation should consult with counsel. Licensed firearms dealers in the jurisdiction are prohibited from selling or offering for sale any semiautomatic pistol unless it microstamps (District of Columbia; California requires any new model of semiautomatic pistol to microstamp) • A semiautomatic pistol “microstamps,” as the relevant term(s) is defined, if it was manufactured to produce a unique alpha-numeric or geometric code on at least two locations on each expended cartridge case that identifies the make, model, and serial number of the pistol (California, District of Columbia) •
Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
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