Ballistic Fingerprinting
Final Paper
The impact of ballistic technology has taken crime solving to a whole new level. With a single scan of a bullet into a ballistics database, the original gun fired can be identified within minutes. Once the gun is identified, however, this can give law enforcement officers the lead they will need in order to identify the suspect and further the investigation of the case. Ballistic Fingerprinting is a method that is used to identify a bullets origin of fire, in other words, what gun fired the bullet in question. “The technology behind the achievement is called IBIS, short for Integrated Ballistics Identification System. Like many ideas in law enforcement, including fingerprinting itself, IBIS immigrated to the United States. Created by Forensic Technology Inc. of Montreal in 1991, it was initially adopted by the ATF and police departments outside of the United States” (Wilson, 2001, Para 6). Since this technology has been adopted in the U.S., more and more cases each year are being solved rather than going cold. This technology is very crucial to not only solving ongoing criminal cases, but cold cases as well. The turnaround of these cases is phenomenal. The only real problem with this new technology is those who try to diminish its good qualities. The NRA for example is completely against this technology. If a law was passed stating that every gun manufactured had to be put into a database with a test fire sample as well, the NRA would fight and petition for this law not to pass. “As it happens, this is precisely what ballistic fingerprinting is designed to accomplish. A registry entails no paperwork for gun owners or restrictions on gun purchases, just better detective work. Does this mean their lobby is onboard? Please. The NRA is working overtime to shoot holes in the new technology” (Pull the Trigger on Fingerprints, 2002, Para 5). If the NRA were on board, this technology would flourish. There are some states already requiring gun
The impact of ballistic technology has taken crime solving to a whole new level. With a single scan of a bullet into a ballistics database, the original gun fired can be identified within minutes. Once the gun is identified, however, this can give law enforcement officers the lead they will need in order to identify the suspect and further the investigation of the case. Ballistic Fingerprinting is a method that is used to identify a bullets origin of fire, in other words, what gun fired the bullet in question. “The technology behind the achievement is called IBIS, short for Integrated Ballistics Identification System. Like many ideas in law enforcement, including fingerprinting itself, IBIS immigrated to the United States. Created by Forensic Technology Inc. of Montreal in 1991, it was initially adopted by the ATF and police departments outside of the United States” (Wilson, 2001, Para 6). Since this technology has been adopted in the U.S., more and more cases each year are being solved rather than going cold. This technology is very crucial to not only solving ongoing criminal cases, but cold cases as well. The turnaround of these cases is phenomenal. The only real problem with this new technology is those who try to diminish its good qualities. The NRA for example is completely against this technology. If a law was passed stating that every gun manufactured had to be put into a database with a test fire sample as well, the NRA would fight and petition for this law not to pass. “As it happens, this is precisely what ballistic fingerprinting is designed to accomplish. A registry entails no paperwork for gun owners or restrictions on gun purchases, just better detective work. Does this mean their lobby is onboard? Please. The NRA is working overtime to shoot holes in the new technology” (Pull the Trigger on Fingerprints, 2002, Para 5). If the NRA were on board, this technology would flourish. There are some states already requiring gun