Ballistics

BrassMonkey · Post by **BrassMonkey** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:32 pm

I was asked by a neighbor today and I did not know the answer in Texas.

"Is it possible to voluntarily get a firearm analyzed and recorded"?

GlockenHammer · Post by **GlockenHammer** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:00 pm

Just guessing, but I'd say no LEO org is going to expend resources doing this.

You might be able to find a private group with the abilities that would do this as a service.

Why does your neighbor ask?

BrassMonkey · Post by **BrassMonkey** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:08 pm

Wants all of his firearms recorded for some strange reason. Paranoid I think.

Mithras61 · Post by **Mithras61** » Sun May 06, 2007 10:10 pm

What purpose would be served by doing this? The very act of firing a firearm changes the marks left on the projectiles from that same firearm. Only an expert in ballistics could match the markings on bullets that are fired several magazines apart, and when it gets much beyond that, the recordings are generally useless.

I believe there is a law requiring such recording of ballistics data in MA, and the state police there have said that not only is this database functionally useless in solving crimes (that is, no crime has been solved by matching ballistics against any recorded in the database), but also it appears to be a collosal sinkhole of expense and manpower, since the recording requirements and manpower required to maintain it seem to increase steadily with no noticeable benefit of any sort.

Liberty · Post by **Liberty** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:27 am

Mithras61 wrote:
I believe there is a law requiring such recording of ballistics data in MA, and the state police there have said that not only is this database functionally useless in solving crimes (that is, no crime has been solved by matching ballistics against any recorded in the database), but also it appears to be a collosal sinkhole of expense and manpower, since the recording requirements and manpower required to maintain it seem to increase steadily with no noticeable benefit of any sort.

Not MA (Massachussetts) but MD (Maryland) that has this unworkable law

Mithras61 · Post by **Mithras61** » Mon May 07, 2007 7:20 am

Liberty wrote:
Mithras61 wrote:
I believe there is a law requiring such recording of ballistics data in MA, and the state police there have said that not only is this database functionally useless in solving crimes (that is, no crime has been solved by matching ballistics against any recorded in the database), but also it appears to be a collosal sinkhole of expense and manpower, since the recording requirements and manpower required to maintain it seem to increase steadily with no noticeable benefit of any sort.
Not MA (Massachussetts) but MD (Maryland) that has this unworkable law

Thanks for the correction! I like to get my facts correct (otherwise they're just opinions!

).

HankB · Post by **HankB** » Mon May 07, 2007 7:36 am

Mithras61 wrote: . . . it appears to be a collosal sinkhole of expense and manpower, since the recording requirements and manpower required to maintain it seem to increase steadily with no noticeable benefit of any sort.

Follow the money, and I'll wager some of it ends up in a politician's (or associate's) pocket . . .

Lodge2004 · Post by **Lodge2004** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:49 am

BrassMonkey wrote:Wants all of his firearms recorded for some strange reason. Paranoid I think.

What about recording the imprints of his tire treads as well? I've always assumed that would be about as logical as recording the markings left on a fired projectile. It may be useful in the immediate aftermath of an incident, but over time the natural wear and tear of everyday use will change the markings.