California Micro-Stamping

[gbran]

Certification of Micro-Stamping information bulletin....... takes effect today?

http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/infobuls/2013-BOF-03.pdf

Excerpt

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform California licensed firearms dealers, California Department of Justice certified laboratories, firearm manufacturers with firearms listed on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale in California, and all other interested persons/entities of the Department of Justice’s certification on May 17, 2013 pursuant to Penal Code section 31910, subdivision (b)(7)(A) that the microstamping technology is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions.

 

[hang fire]

California Friday night document dump. read it and weep

http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/infobuls/2013-BOF-03.pdf

Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General

California Department of Justice
DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Larry J. Wallace, Director
INFORMATION
BULLETIN

Subject: No: Contact for information
2013-BOF-03

Certification of Microstamping Technology Bureau of Firearms
pursuant to Penal Code section 31910, Date
subdivision (b)(7)(A) May 17, 2013

TO: California Licensed Firearms Dealers, California Department of Justice Certified
Laboratories, Firearm Manufacturers with Firearms listed on the Roster of Handguns
Certified for Sale in California, and all other interested persons/entities

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform California licensed firearms dealers, California
Department of Justice certified laboratories, firearm manufacturers with firearms listed on the
Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale in California, and all other interested persons/entities of
the Department of Justice’s certification on May 17, 2013 pursuant to Penal Code section 31910,
subdivision (b)(7)(A) that the microstamping technology is available to more than one
manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions.

Background

In 2007, Assembly Bill 1471 was passed and signed into law, requiring all semiautomatic pistols
to be equipped with microstamping technology—“a microscopic array of characters that identify
the make, model, and serial number of the pistol, etched or otherwise imprinted in two or more
places on the interior surface or internal working parts of the pistol, and that are transferred by
imprinting on each cartridge case when the firearm is fired.” (Pen. Code, § 31910, subd.
(b)(7)(A).) The legislation further provided that this requirement becomes effective when the
Department of Justice “certifies that the technology used to create the [microstamp] imprint is
available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions.” (Ibid.)

Certification of the Microstamping Technology

On May 17, 2013, the Department of Justice issued a certification that the microstamping
technology is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions.
A copy of the certification is attached to this bulletin.

 

[Certaindeaf]

So in other words what?

 

[dakotasouth]

Looks to me like this microstamping business is about to go live and be required in California.

 

[cwbys4evr]

That's exactly what it says

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Librarian]

Well, it was published earlier than Friday night, but there it is.

Yes; this says the microstamping requirement is now a 'gating factor' for semi-automatic handguns to get on California's Roster of Handguns, just like 'magazine disconnects' and 'loaded chamber indicators'.

No value in reciting the litany of practical objections to this as a crime solving measure; the Legislature heard it all back before they passed the bill - and they passed it anyway. Solving crimes (or any public safety benefit), as with all California gun laws, is not the point.

 

[kyhunter]

not to hijack but ive honestly never heard of this before? Is it like a micro engraving in the chamber that imprints on a fired cae like an extractor/ejector on an overpressure round?

 

[vkeith]

not to hijack but ive honestly never heard of this before? Is it like a micro engraving in the chamber that imprints on a fired cae like an extractor/ejector on an overpressure round?

Wikipedia has basic info on microstamping which basically consists of tiny engravings on the firing pin and breech face that stamp identifying marks on each cartridge casing so that it may be traced in the event of a crime.

In reality, it is yet another means to target law abiding citizens, since it would be easily defeatable by criminals.

 

[hang fire]

The Democrat-Socialist legislature has been for some time trying to find any "workaround" possible to halt the sale of all handguns here. This may be it.
Other pending legislation (there are no less than 49 bills being considered) may halt all private-party transfers of "unsafe" handguns; thus finally halting any new semi-automatic pistols from legally coming into the state (except for LE), and all existing semi-automatic pistols from being transferred. As none will legally be able to be inherited by future generations (unless those can be retrofitted or purchased new with compliance), the state will have eliminated a huge number of handguns.
We will have to watch and see where this goes. I see revolvers as being next.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. ... Eric Hoffer

 

[45_auto]

What's the penalty for having a gun with altering or removed microstampings? Is it considered the same as altering or removing a serial number?

Sounds like the aftermarket part situation in California is going to get very interesting.

It ought to help elevate the price of used guns.

Bad guys who know where to apply a file are going to become very popular among their brethren.

New revolvers (as opposed to semi-auto brass chunkers) will probably also become more popular.

Might be a good time to go into the brass-catcher manufacturing business in California.

Going to make range-brass pickup reloads in demand for the bad guys - if they're lucky, the micro-stamped brass they're shooting will have come from a cop's gun.

Going to be funny if losing a piece of your micro-stamped brass will be worse than giving out your social security number.

Wonder if micro-stamped pickup range brass will be worth more than unstamped brass? That way someone else gets in trouble if a piece of your reloaded brass happens to end up somewhere you don't want it to.

 

[Zoogster]

Woah.

This was not supposed to happen for years, did the patent holder waive thier rights?


This makes all guns without it illegal right? In essence stopping gun sales in the state of California, and mandating a requirement that will add additional cost to every firearm to be implemented.



It also brings back the issues that were never resolved because it was not immediately a problem. Like the fact that microstamping parts will wear and cease to add the marks.
That microscopic raised surfaces on parts in contact with the brass during cyling of an automatic firearm may reduce liability by increasing friction.
That normal polishes of chamber, as well as altering dimensions for increased reliability and other things could be removing such numbers, does it make it illegal to polish or otherwise deface your chamber or other area?
What about simple inexpensive items like firing pins, do Californians have to buy expensive specialty ones now?
What if the microstamping one wears out? Or what if it still works but the microstamping ceases to stamp due to wear? Is buying a normal one illegal? If legal then can't anyone just replace thier existing microstamped stuff with standard stuff and render tracking law abiding gun owners' brass useless.
How about reloading other people's brass with microstamping on them?


Will we see additional legislation to close the normal part buying loophole?
What about a black market industry of normal firing pins, or criminals making new ones from metal rods and nails!

 

[Pilot]

It never ceases to amaze me at how un-Constitutional CA can be.

 

[1911Tuner]

It's a feel good move that leads people to believe that it will curtail gun related crime and/or lead to the arrest of the perpetrators...but in actuality will do very little other than add to the cost of buying a gun...and "they" know these things. That's their goal.

It's not about crime...up or down...or why. They don't give a rotund rodent's rump about crime, other than using it to get a mandate from the voters.

It's about control.

Well...The good folks of California keep electing these people. Not sure what conclusions we can draw from that, but there it is.

 

[gbran]

Yes it appears they are jumping the sharke here.

As it applies to SA pistols only, I think it grandfathers all existing pistols and all that are on the Safe Handgun Roster, at least until the mfg has to update them on the roster.

Certainly no new SA pistols will be allowed without micro-stamping. So even if the gun makers decided to mfg a CA only pistol, who the heck is going to buy one.

I won't even go into tech problems or how easy this micro-stamping can be defeated.

I guess we all need to stock up on extra firing pins and barrels.

 

[1911Tuner]

I won't even go into tech problems or how easy this micro-stamping can be defeated.

I guess we all need to stock up on extra firing pins and barrels.

Oh, sure it can...the same way that traditional "ballistic fingerprinting" can be defeated...and just as easily.

And they know that, too.

 

[gbran]

You are right. This has nothing to do with crime and everything to do with people control and removing 2A rights.

Law abiding citizens, any the buy these guns, if they're made, will comply. Criminals don't need to defeat micro-stamping, as most are using guns that aren't registered to them anyway. BTW, CA does have handgun registration.

This has snuck up on us as it is surprising premature, but the day is here and I say this will have huge consequences.

 

[1911Tuner]

the day is here and I say this will have huge consequences.

Well...maybe for new gun purchases in California...but there are about 300 million guns in private hands, and that's just the ones that are known since they started keeping track in 1968. There are probably at least that many that aren't known or documented. Guns that were bought in the day when you walked into a hardware store or gun shop with the cash, and...other than showing proof of age 18 for long gun and 21 for handgun...you paid and walked out with your gun...and in some places, not even that. I remember those days, and a helluva lotta guns were bought with no more fanfare than buying a toaster or a shovel.

And it's true that a good many of those guns are old and nearly worn out...but there are just as many that were fired very little.

For instance, I'd hesitate to bet on how many Model 10s were bought...fired 6 times...cleaned...and spent 3 or 4 decades resting quietly in a nightstand. I recently bought one each "Pencil Barrel"Model 10 that resolves to 1965 and 4-inch pinned/recessed Model 13...and neither revolver even had a hint of a drag line on the cylinder. About 7 years ago, I bought a Colt Commercial Government Model that was produced in 1925...and the bluing on the frame rails was barely burnished.

They're out there.

 

[45_auto]

Might make me decide to use range-brass pickup reloads for my crimes if I was in California.

Just think, if I was lucky the micro-stamped range brass would have come from a cop's gun!

Gonna be LMAO if losing a piece of your brass is worse than giving someone your social security number!

 

[1911Tuner]

Gonna be LMAO if losing a piece of your brass is worse than giving someone your social security number!

And they know that, too. People will be afraid to shoot their self-shuckers...or at least very hesitant.

 

[hso]

This makes all guns without it illegal right?

Just firearms manufactured after the date and sold in the state. The MILLIONS of legal existing firearms aren't required to retrofit NOR are the MILLIONS of illegal firearms <sarcasm>.

The philosophy is that it won't have an effect today, tomorrow, or even this decade, but "eventually" every working firearm will have this "crime fighting feature" and it will have an impact. This of course ignores how easy it is to defeat the feature and how long firearms last.

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Me thinks the prices on my revolvers are about to go up,up and awaaaaaay.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

It's not about crime...up or down...or why. They don't give a rotund rodent's rump about crime, other than using it to get a mandate from the voters.

It's about control.

Yeppers.

Let's take a look at the fundamental flaws in logic here:

Criminal obtains gun (legally or otherwise).

A. Criminal eliminates or obscures the microstamping. Problem solved.
B. Criminal steals the gun. Problem solved.
C. Criminal steals the gun then disposes of it after the crime. Problem solved.
D. Criminal tapes a bag over his gun hand like normal for a semi-auto: No shells at the scene. Problem solved.
E. Criminal replaces the microstamped component(s). Problem solved.
F. Criminal commits a gross act of violence then suicides. Problem solved.
G. Criminal gets caught with a modified microstamped gun, gets a slap on the wrist and released. He gets another gun because he doesn't care. Problem solved.
H. Criminal commits a crime with a microstamped gun and gets caught and prosecuted. Evidence trail not properly documented or highly circumstantial. No conviction. Problem solved.

Speaking of effectiveness, there are more loopholes in this than a wadded up ball of 300 foot fishing line.

Not that this matters, of course.


Funny, though, how law enforcement is exempt from this. Think of all the crime scene information we could clarify when investigating a secured scene to see who fired how many shots and from where, for example. Or tracability of stolen police firearms used in crimes. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, I say.

 

[rdhood]

The obvious next step: reloading previously stamped brass will be made illegal. I can't see that they will let brass be stamped more than once.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I wonder how many manufacturers are going to bother selling in CA at all.

 

[kwguy]

AAAAAAH! This stuff just makes my head explode! The idiocy of this is truly astounding, and the fact that so many people think this is a good idea. Flabbergasting...