Brendan Cavalier’s “View From the Soapbox” might as well just be a link to the National Rifle Association website. His argument is based on half-truths and downright paranoia and it is evident that his “research” consisted of . . . who knows, because he doesn’t tell us how he gets these magical facts. Maybe he watches a lot of CSI. Or FoxNews. His assertion that the entire ballistic fingerprinting program would be useless because a criminal could simply “change” their gun fingerprint is absurd. I guess we should scrap standard fingerprinting as well because a really smart criminal will just wear gloves, right? Of course not. Many crimes are actually committed by people who are not so bright. Have you seen COPS? The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had this to say about the issue in their report on Ballistic Imaging and Comparison of Crime Gun Evidence, which is available on their website: “It is important to note that while it is not particularly difficult of time-consuming to alter a weapon, instances of this occurring in actual casework are exceedingly rare. One of the senior ATF firearms examiners collaborating on this report has seen only two cases of altered firearms over the course of a 15-year career, and in one of those two cases, the diversion was unsuccessful, as the evidence could still be matched to the firearm despite the alteration. Also, because the altered version of the imprints are consistent until changed again, the gun will leave the new markings consistently unless it is re-altered after every use; thus, in a crime gun database, the new markings are useful as well.” So not only is it rare to see such a tactic used, it could actually make the casing even more unique and detectable. Mr. Cavalier’s assumption that the Maryland system is a bust is shortsighted and uneducated. This system is just beginning. When the United States began fingerprinting criminals in the 1920’s, it took over five years to have enough fingerprints on the database to make it effective. So perhaps Mr. Cavalier is just impatient. Also, ballistic fingerprinting has had thousands of successes. Go to http://www.nibin.gov/nb_success.htm and see for yourself. Yet another inaccuracy was the statement that the database would “contain the name of every single gun buyer in the country.” If he had done his research, Mr. Cavalier would have seen that no names will be on this registry, just the serial number of the gun. And the only bullets that will be traced to these guns are ones found at crime scenes. The police are not going to be running around yanking bullets out of deer and shooting range targets.And while it’s true that gun control groups and Democrats are in favor of this program, I wish Mr. Cavalier would have also noted that virtually every law enforcement agency in the country is in favor of it as well. This includes the Fraternal Order of Police, a notoriously anti-gun control group of men and women. I suppose they just don’t have the technical knowledge that Mr. Cavalier does. Mr. Cavalier’s “View From the Soapbox” seems to be clouded by the smoke and mirrors of the NRA, a group that believes every little hill is a slippery slope, and that assault rifles and bulletproof vest piercing bullets are signs of freedom. “A nationwide gun owner’s database is a risky concept because it could be the first step in a nationwide gun confiscation program, should one ever be enacted,” Cavalier wrote. He’s partially right. It would be the first step in a nationwide criminal gun confiscation program, should one ever be enacted. What’s so scary about that?

Michael LaPorta COM 01