This measure is designed to help reduce street crime in California by making it possible to 'trace' a patricular bullet to a gun owner.
Seems like a good idea? But this would be very easy to abuse. Are all shooting in Calif committed using legal registered guns? If not then this is useless.
My first thought when i read this was of the traceability of bullets used during war. If a civillian woman or child is killed by a stray bullet the soldier, in theory, could be held to account. This means that the military itself could divorce itself from blame in these situations and leave the soldier to take the rap all by himself.
This would be great when a war crime has been committed however... how easy would it be to obtain a non army issue gun from a dead insurgent and shoot people with those? No serial number, no nothing...
I am not singling out any particular nation here as this is purely speculative.
what do you think?
Bill Would Put Serial Numbers on bullets
Wednesday April 27, 2005 3:46 AM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A state Senate committee approved a proposal Tuesday to put a serial number on every handgun bullet made or sold in California.
The measure cleared the Senate Public Safety Committee on a 4-2 vote over opposition from manufacturers, firearms dealers and sport shooters.
The technology exists to laser-cut bullets with a number that police could use to trace who purchased bullets used in crimes, said Democratic sponsor Sen. Joseph Dunn.
Purchasers would pay up to a half a cent per bullet to fund record-keeping by the state Department of Justice. Vendors would pay up to $50 a year.
``We'll solve a lot of crimes if this becomes law,'' said Attorney General Bill Lockyer. If approved by the Legislature, the law would take effect in July 2007.
Seems like a good idea? But this would be very easy to abuse. Are all shooting in Calif committed using legal registered guns? If not then this is useless.
My first thought when i read this was of the traceability of bullets used during war. If a civillian woman or child is killed by a stray bullet the soldier, in theory, could be held to account. This means that the military itself could divorce itself from blame in these situations and leave the soldier to take the rap all by himself.
This would be great when a war crime has been committed however... how easy would it be to obtain a non army issue gun from a dead insurgent and shoot people with those? No serial number, no nothing...
I am not singling out any particular nation here as this is purely speculative.
what do you think?
Bill Would Put Serial Numbers on bullets
Wednesday April 27, 2005 3:46 AM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A state Senate committee approved a proposal Tuesday to put a serial number on every handgun bullet made or sold in California.
The measure cleared the Senate Public Safety Committee on a 4-2 vote over opposition from manufacturers, firearms dealers and sport shooters.
The technology exists to laser-cut bullets with a number that police could use to trace who purchased bullets used in crimes, said Democratic sponsor Sen. Joseph Dunn.
Purchasers would pay up to a half a cent per bullet to fund record-keeping by the state Department of Justice. Vendors would pay up to $50 a year.
``We'll solve a lot of crimes if this becomes law,'' said Attorney General Bill Lockyer. If approved by the Legislature, the law would take effect in July 2007.