Maryland's ballistic fingerprinting

[RM]

I am interested to know any recent information about Maryland's ballistic fingerprinting program. Has it been effective? Has it solved any crimes? Do any other states have similar programs? Thanks for any information.

 

[Old Fuff]

So far as I know the Maryland program hasn't done anything, and I think if they had, it would be all over the news. New York State has a similar program with the same record of success. You might try searching the state websites of Maryland and New York and see if you turn up anything. I am sure that if they're was anything they's be shouting about it from the rooftops.

 

[Al in Md]

The Md. Ballistic fingerprint program has a record of zero crimes solved. Between 2 and 3 million dollars spent to no avail? Think again, It has become handgun registration in disguise. Proposals were made to extend this to long guns also and only cries of poverty and budget shortfalls by our Republican Gov. kept them at bay. Al

 

[Standing Wolf]

Actually, it's been quite effective: it makes it more difficult and expensive for subjects of the People's Republic of Maryland to keep and bear arms. That's the whole point.

 

[243_shooter]

We've had all new handguns "fingerprinted" for the past year(?) or so. It's a joke. They enter the pertinent details from the fired case into the "database".

Of course we've had handgun registration for years.. Anyone familiar with the NYS pistol permit process?

1) go to the pistol permit clerk, get a purchase coupon
2) go buy the handgun
3) go back to the pistol permit clerk and have the details added to your permit (make / model / serial number)

similar procedure to transfer a gun to another private individual (they have to have a NYS pistol permit).

Leo

 

[anapex]

It's also a great way to limit the selection of firearms Marylanders have, I know there's a couple pieces I'd like to get but the company won't ship with a factory fired casing. Maryland now also has the wonderful integrated lock law further limiting the selection of firearms.

 

[moa]

According to the Maryland based pro-RKBA newsletter called "Tripwire", the program to date has cost at least $5 million and has not lead to one conviction. Supposedly, two crimes have be solved as result of the ballistic fingerprinting, but what is the point if you cannot get a conviction.

The "two crimes solved" statistic comes from Montgomery County State Attorney Doug Gansler, and I would not trust anything he says. He is not a friend of RKBA.