Rice Urges Senate to Pass Microstamping Legislation

Rice announces support for law that would help police link crime scene shell casings to firearm owners

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice is calling on the State Senate to pass legislation that would give law enforcement agencies the ability to instantly match a shell casing found at a crime scene to the specific weapon used in the crime and to the firearm’s registered owner. 

The bill would require firearm manufacturers to include ballistic identification technology in semi-automatic pistols manufactured or delivered to New York State.  The technology imprints the make, model and serial number of the firearm onto any cartridge upon its discharge from the weapon.  The law pertains to semi-automatic pistols because these firearms, unlike revolvers, automatically discharge the spent shell casing after firing. 

Rice said that the legislation would allow police to quickly match a shell casing found at a crime scene to a specific weapon and its registered owner.  Right now, when a shell casing is discovered police are only able to determine the weapon’s caliber.  To ballistically match a shell casing with a specific firearm, the police must be in possession of both the spent cartridge and the firearm.  Rice said that this technology will allow the police to immediately know what firearm was used and who it is registered to, without having to actually locate the weapon.

The bill, authored by Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel of Great Neck, passed the Assembly 94-47 earlier this month.  Similar legislation is expected to be introduced in the State Senate in the coming weeks.  California signed into law Microstamping legislation in 2007, and a number of other states, along with the United States Congress, are considering similar pieces of legislation. 

“Microstamping technology is a valuable tool for law enforcement that will result in more evidence and more violent offenders off the street,” Rice said. “I fully support Assemblywoman Schimel’s legislation and commend her on her commitment to making our streets safer.”

The ballistic identification technology is expected to cost about one dollar per firearm and would be required on all semi-automatic pistols beginning January 1, 2010.