Gun tracing data question...

[oobray]

I was recently involved in polite debate with someone about gun tracing databases.
I was totally against such a database, based upon privacy and constitutional concerns. He then offered to me something that on it's face value seemed somewhat reasonable.

He asked if I would be ok with some sort of ballistic database if such a database was kept and maintained by an organization such as the NRA who's first concern would be the privacy of individuals. Then, in order to get access to such information the governemtn (local, state or federal) would have to get a warrant before searching said database.

Then of course you run in to the fact that the ballistic data in said database would only be linked to the original owner and not necessarily lead to the person who might have legally purchased this item by private sale.

However, what do you think about this idea?

 

[Car Knocker]

By "ballistic database" are you referring to the discredited "gun fingerprint" scheme?

 

[fletcher]

There's really no purpose that I can think of to maintain a database on all guns. It will only be useful if someone who legally purchased a gun from a dealer uses it for a crime, and is not caught by other means. Even then, for it to be accurate, they would have to track every single exchange of firearms (bye-bye FTF).

Biggest waste of $$$. That's also assuming the NRA is willing to hire people and purchase equipment to maintain it, and that the government would reimburse them for such expenses.

 

[Deavis]

Which ballistic database will your idea be based on? The failed programs already in place that are easily defeated and have an incredibly low success rate even under controlled laboratory conditions or some new super fancey scheme?

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/lott200502040751.asp

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Ballistic databases are simply bad policy even if you leave confiscatory issues aside. They are expensive to implement, have a high error rate, and don't actually solve crimes. You can read the California Attorney General's office reaching that same conclusion in a report titled TECHNICAL EVALUATION: FEASIBLITY OF A BALLISTICS IMAGING DATABASE FOR ALL NEW HANDGUN SALES

 

[Phil Lee]

Some more Ballistic Database Info

Some of the important attachments to this California report are not at the links supplied by the PDF document "TECHNICAL EVALUATION: FEASIBLITY OF A BALLISTICS IMAGING DATABASE FOR ALL NEW HANDGUN SALES". The very important Attachment D (Dr. Jan De Kinder's independent evaluation) may still be found through the web archive.

Appendices A through F also are available through the web archive.

This last file will take a while to download on dial-up.

In Maryland, authorities claimed that the ballistic fingerprinting database was instrumental in convicting a murderer (see the Washington Post article "Ballistics Database Yields 1st Conviction", April 2, 2005).

The official transcripts of this murder trial have police testimony and a time line of evidence development which contradict these assertion reported here.

 

[ceetee]

I'd be in favor of a firearms "ballistic database" only under the condition that I get to hold the contract and get paid to manage it.