Commerce Dept. Explains Why Unconstitutional Microstamping is Also Ineffective

[Sedalia Dave]

 

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20260831/commerce-dept-explains-why-unconstitutional-microstamping-is-also-ineffective

[Blackwater 53393]

How many times and from how many sources do these imbeciles have to hear and see the evidence that this will not and cannot work??

 

Nevermind!!  The facts and truth bear no weight in their agenda!!

[Jimmy Reb, SASS #54804]

The fact that it won't work is why they want it. That way they can outlaw more guns.

[Subdeacon Joe]

Nothing new.

2008, UC Davis: Gun microstamping needs more testing | UC Davis https://share.google/6VF4CVJOTveA0EyaO

 

Key Findings of the UC Davis StudyFlawed Reliability: Testing showed that microstamping codes transferred poorly or failed entirely in certain tests, such as with rimfire cartridges.Tampering Risks: Researchers found that the alphanumeric codes engraved on the firing pin could be easily erased or modified using basic household tools like sandpaper or a file.Recommendation: The study authors stated that further testing, analysis, and evaluation were required before attempting to legally mandate the technology in semi-automatic handguns.

 

Which our Legislature ignored. And overlooked the glaring issues that didn't turn up in the very short term tests: California's Microstamping Mandate: Technological Promise or Practical Pitfall? - California Firearms Lawyer | The Davis Law Firm | California Firearms Lawyer | The Davis Law Firm https://share.google/6fplFfOJl8vB29arB

 

The DOJ’s investigation, conducted in response to Senate Bill 452 (passed in 2023), focused on advancements since earlier barriers, such as patent restrictions that were lifted by 2025.

Key conclusions include:

• Viability in Controlled Tests: The technology performs reliably in lab settings, with legible imprints achievable on various ammunition types without compromising gun safety or function.
• Cost Estimates: Implementation is deemed “minimal” for manufacturers, though exact figures are sparse.
• Regulatory Timeline: If viable, the DOJ must issue performance standards by September 1, 2025, accept licensure applications by January 1, 2026, and assess commercial availability at reasonable prices by July 1, 2027.

Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the potential to enhance public safety, stating the report removes “technological hurdles” to adoption.oag.ca.gov As of July 21, 2025, no further updates on performance standards have emerged, but the mandate could drastically reduce the state’s already limited “safe handgun” roster if manufacturers balk at compliance.

Overlooked Challenges: Why Microstamping May Not Be Viable

Despite the optimistic tone, the report has drawn sharp criticism for its narrow scope, prioritizing lab success over practical hurdles. Industry groups and experts argue it fails to address factors that could render microstamping ineffective or burdensome.

Ease of Tampering and Defeat

One glaring omission is the vulnerability to tampering. Microstamps, etched only 25 microns deep, can be erased with simple tools like a file or sandpaper in under a minute. Criminals could replace firing pins—inexpensive, off-the-shelf parts—nullifying the feature entirely. The report acknowledges this but dismisses it as irrelevant to “technological viability,” ignoring how such ease of subversion undermines crime-solving utility.wcbm.com Studies from institutions like UC Davis have shown degradation after minimal use, and real-world variables like ammunition quality or environmental factors further reduce legibility.

Durability and Long-Term Reliability

The DOJ’s tests were short-term and controlled, overlooking wear after thousands of rounds. Firing pins erode from friction and corrosion, leading to inconsistent imprints. Forensic analyses indicate that multiple casings are often needed to reconstruct a code, and toolmarks evolve over time, complicating identifications.thetrace.org Critics, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), point out that no major manufacturer has adopted microstamping commercially due to these reliability issues – even at the cost of losing the California market.

 

UC Davis 2007

Mixed results for coded bullet casings | UC Davis https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/mixed-results-coded-bullet-casings

 

Graduate student Michael Beddow tested firing pins from six brands of semiautomatic handguns, two semiautomatic rifles and a shotgun. The firing pins were engraved with three different types of code: a letter-number combination on the face of the firing pin, a pattern of dots or gears around the pin, and a radial bar code on the side of the pin.

 

To study the effects of repeated firing, he fitted engraved firing pins into six Smith and Wesson .40-caliber handguns that were issued to California Highway Patrol cadets for use in weapons training. After firing about 2,500 rounds, the letter-number codes on the firing pin faces were still legible with some signs of wear. But other types of codes around the edge of the pins were badly worn. "They were hammered flat," Beddow said.

 

Tests on other guns, including .22, .380 and .40-caliber handguns, plus the semiautomatic rifles and a pump-action shotgun, showed a wide range of results depending on the weapon, the ammunition used and the type of code examined, Beddow found. Generally, the letter-number and gear codes transferred well to cartridge cases, but the bar codes on the sides of the firing pin performed more poorly.

 

The researchers did not have access to information allowing them to read the bar or gear codes, and so could not determine if these remained legible enough to be useful.

 

One known downside: Codes engraved on the face of the firing pin could easily be removed with household tools, Beddow found.

 

The researchers estimated that setting up a facility to engrave the firing pins of every handgun sold in California would cost about $8 per firing pin in the first year, falling to under $2 per firing pin in subsequent year.