GUN MICROSTAMPING DEMONSTRATION CONDUCTED TODAY
California Political Desk
August 14, 2007
New technology can be crucial tool for law enforcement to solve gun crimes.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2007 (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) – Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) was joined today at the Los Angeles Policy Academy Range by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca, and Los Angeles Police Department’s Deputy Chief & Chief of Detectives Gary Brennan to demonstrate the efficacy of microstamping and urge the passage of AB 1471. The legislation, called the Crime Gun Identification Act of 2007, requires that all new models of semiautomatic handgun are microstamped with its make, model and identification number.
Microstamping, which is used to identify guns used in crimes, would be required on all new models of semiautomatic handguns sold in California after 2010. It has already been approved by the Assembly and now will be considered by the Senate soon after its return from summer recess on Aug. 20.
The bill, AB 1471, has the backing of the Los Angeles Police Department, the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), as well as scores of other police departments and organizations throughout the state. The markings, which are virtually invisible to the naked eye and are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to delete, are replicated on all bullet casings fired from the gun. Currently, 45% of gun crimes in California go unsolved for lack of evidence. The California Assembly passed the legislation in the Spring, and the Senate will vote late in August.
The demonstration occurred in front of Senate staff who are poised to vote on the legislation along with local elected officials, law enforcement officials and victims of violent crimes.
At today’s demonstration, an officer from the LAPD fired bullets from guns with microstamping. Todd Lizotte, who developed microstamping technology, then examined the bullet casings under a microscope so that visitors could see the markings that were made when the gun was fired.
Assemblymember Mike Feuer, who wrote the legislation requiring microstamping, said, “The technology is available right now to help track down the killers who use handguns. It is time to require this technology to be used so law enforcement can clamp down on hand gun crime.”
I appreciate Assemblymember Mike Feuer for prioritizing public safety with this legislation,” said Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau has hundreds of unsolved cases where the only evidence left at the scene of the crime were expended bullet casings. If these casings had imprinted information on them from the firearm, our investigators would have an exceptional chance of solving these heinous crimes. Assemblymember Feuer’s legislation takes a bold step forward which would enhance our ability to bring murderers and other criminals to justice.”
Microstamping has the potential to revolutionize the investigation of shooting incidents involving handguns,” said Deputy Chief Gary Brennan. “This new technology will enable law enforcement personnel to quickly identify firearms used in crimes, increasing the chances of apprehending the suspect(s) and gathering timely and crucial evidence. It will also encourage responsible gun ownership by providing investigators with information on the firearm’s owner.”
While California may be the first state to pass the microstamping legislation, Massachusetts and Rhode Island introduced similar legislation this year and the Maryland Police Department is promoting consideration there. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) intend to introduce legislation to require microstamping on a Federal level.
Assemblyman Mike Feuer was elected to the California State Assembly to represent the 42nd Assembly District, which includes all or part of the Los Angeles communities of Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood, Valley Village, Toluca Lake, Universal City, Griffith Park, Brentwood, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Beverly Glen, Westwood, Century City, Hollywood, Fairfax, Hancock Park, Los Feliz, as well as the Cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2007 (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) – Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) was joined today at the Los Angeles Policy Academy Range by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca, and Los Angeles Police Department’s Deputy Chief & Chief of Detectives Gary Brennan to demonstrate the efficacy of microstamping and urge the passage of AB 1471. The legislation, called the Crime Gun Identification Act of 2007, requires that all new models of semiautomatic handgun are microstamped with its make, model and identification number.
Microstamping, which is used to identify guns used in crimes, would be required on all new models of semiautomatic handguns sold in California after 2010. It has already been approved by the Assembly and now will be considered by the Senate soon after its return from summer recess on Aug. 20.
The bill, AB 1471, has the backing of the Los Angeles Police Department, the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), as well as scores of other police departments and organizations throughout the state. The markings, which are virtually invisible to the naked eye and are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to delete, are replicated on all bullet casings fired from the gun. Currently, 45% of gun crimes in California go unsolved for lack of evidence. The California Assembly passed the legislation in the Spring, and the Senate will vote late in August.
The demonstration occurred in front of Senate staff who are poised to vote on the legislation along with local elected officials, law enforcement officials and victims of violent crimes.
At today’s demonstration, an officer from the LAPD fired bullets from guns with microstamping. Todd Lizotte, who developed microstamping technology, then examined the bullet casings under a microscope so that visitors could see the markings that were made when the gun was fired.
Assemblymember Mike Feuer, who wrote the legislation requiring microstamping, said, “The technology is available right now to help track down the killers who use handguns. It is time to require this technology to be used so law enforcement can clamp down on hand gun crime.”
I appreciate Assemblymember Mike Feuer for prioritizing public safety with this legislation,” said Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau has hundreds of unsolved cases where the only evidence left at the scene of the crime were expended bullet casings. If these casings had imprinted information on them from the firearm, our investigators would have an exceptional chance of solving these heinous crimes. Assemblymember Feuer’s legislation takes a bold step forward which would enhance our ability to bring murderers and other criminals to justice.”
Microstamping has the potential to revolutionize the investigation of shooting incidents involving handguns,” said Deputy Chief Gary Brennan. “This new technology will enable law enforcement personnel to quickly identify firearms used in crimes, increasing the chances of apprehending the suspect(s) and gathering timely and crucial evidence. It will also encourage responsible gun ownership by providing investigators with information on the firearm’s owner.”
While California may be the first state to pass the microstamping legislation, Massachusetts and Rhode Island introduced similar legislation this year and the Maryland Police Department is promoting consideration there. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) intend to introduce legislation to require microstamping on a Federal level.
Assemblyman Mike Feuer was elected to the California State Assembly to represent the 42nd Assembly District, which includes all or part of the Los Angeles communities of Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood, Valley Village, Toluca Lake, Universal City, Griffith Park, Brentwood, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Beverly Glen, Westwood, Century City, Hollywood, Fairfax, Hancock Park, Los Feliz, as well as the Cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.