Lawmakers weigh options as gun technology advances
BOSTON (WWLP) – A special commission on emerging gun technology met on Tuesday to discuss how legislation should evolve as guns become more and more sophisticated.
The commission is considering implementing a law that would mandate microstamping, a technology that engraves a unique code on a guns firing pin that is then stamped on cartridge casings when the gun is fired. This allows law enforcement to more efficiently identify the gun used in a crime.
Victim identified in Allen Park Rd. shooting in Springfield
Jim Wallace is the Executive Director of the Gun Owners' Action League. His organization has been a vocal opponent of Massachusetts' newest gun law, passed in July. He said microstamping is an ineffective way to catch criminals.
'Once somethings in the hands of a criminal, they don't care about the penalties, and the serial number is useless,' Wallace said. 'So there's so many ways to defeat this thing for a criminal.'
One local lawmaker pushed back against Wallace, saying that while he may dispute how effective the measure would be, it would still be a useful forensic tool for law enforcement to have in their toolboxes.
'Microstamping is envisioned as a tool for law enforcement,' said Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D, Melrose). 'It may be imperfect, it may need to be developed over time.'
Wallace said every time lawmakers pass a gun law, it has a negative impact on Bay State residents and is a 'burden' to gun owners across the state.
Lawmakers plan to continue to study how effective microstamping may be before recommending that Massachusetts implements the policy.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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