Crime Gun Identification Act Passed Senate Floor
California Political Desk
September 06, 2007
Technology will be a crucial tool for law enforcement to solve thousands of crimes.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) AB 1471, authored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) passed the Senate Floor today with a vote of 21:17. 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.
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.
Microstamping has the potential to revolutionize the investigation of shooting incidents involving handguns, said Assemblymember Mike Feuer. 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.
Feuer praised the strong leadership efforts to pass this bill in the Senate led by Senator President Prop Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) particularly Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch), the Senate Appropriations Chair who carried the bill on the Senate Floor and Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco-Marin) who is the Senate Democratic Caucus Chair.
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 Glen, 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.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) AB 1471, authored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) passed the Senate Floor today with a vote of 21:17. 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.
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.
Microstamping has the potential to revolutionize the investigation of shooting incidents involving handguns, said Assemblymember Mike Feuer. 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.
Feuer praised the strong leadership efforts to pass this bill in the Senate led by Senator President Prop Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) particularly Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch), the Senate Appropriations Chair who carried the bill on the Senate Floor and Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco-Marin) who is the Senate Democratic Caucus Chair.
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 Glen, 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.
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