Tue, 29 Oct 2002 20:16:07
I love John Lott. In a platonic, manly way.
Professor John Lott, Jr. does it time and time again. When a new crazy scheme to somehow magically change criminals who are already breaking one or more of the 20,000+ gun laws in existence rears it’s ugly head, he’s there with a reasoned and factual reply.
According to the Brady Campaign, recording the markings on bullets from all new guns “would have solved this crime (the sniper shootings) after the first shooting.” |
What a load of crap.
I’ve been on about the ballistic “fingerprinting” issue a number of times, so needless to say I was very gratified to see most of my feelings and assertions about why it is doomed to fail supported by Lott. I personally believe he might be the most informed man in America when it comes to the politics and the realities of guns and gun ownership.
Forget the larger issues of privacy, etc. Let’s just focus on my biggest pet peeve about this “fingerprinting” issue; It will not work.
So far, only Maryland and New York have started recording the ballistic fingerprints of all new handguns sold. While Maryland’s program technically started in January 2001, the cost of implementing the program made it unprofitable for gun makers to sell any handguns in the state for the first six months of the year. Only after the state temporarily agreed to pick up some of the costs did sales proceed. The program cost $1.1 million to start and another $750,000 a year to run. New York’s program began in March 2001 with startup costs of $4.5 million. No estimates are available on the yearly cost for New York. The costs for dealers, gun makers and prospective gun owners are probably by far greater and were responsible for reducing handgun sales in both states.
So far, the database on new sales is not encouraging. Not one violent crime has been solved in New York or Maryland using the database. It has only been used to identify two handguns stolen from a gun shop in Maryland. |
Yep...as expected. And why? Well, mainly the fact that criminals rarely use guns purchased at legitimate sales outlets. Also, it’s ridiculously easy to change a gun’s “fingerprint.”
I am really starting to hate that word. It’s such a calculated misnomer. These markings they want to study are to fingerprints as the Yugo is to NASCAR.
Posted by JimK at 08:16 PM on October 29, 2002
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