Firearms Evidence Research Paper

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Firearms Evidence Robert Richards Monday, December 3, 2012 Criminalistics Professor Name : ? Firearms Evidence For many murder or assault suspects, evidence proves to be the difference of a normal life versus a life in jail, or even worse, death. It is the job of a team of criminal justice workers to prove or disprove a suspects innocence or guilt. In many cases, this can prove to be a very difficult task but not impossible. In the case of a firearm related crime, the most crucial pieces of evidence can be the firearm itself along with the damaging ammunition. Through a series of tests known as “Ballistic Testing,” experts are able to determine whether the damaging ammunition was in fact released from the suspected firearm. (Inbau,1999)…show more content…
These markings are also referred to as “toolmarks.” If the investigators are able to locate a suspected weapon, they will then be able to compare the markings made on the ammunition with those that are created by the weapon in their custody. This may sound like a very difficult task as it would essentially require disassembling the entire gun and somehow breaking open the barrel to see inside of it. This would be a quite expensive and time consuming venture. There is a much simpler method to achieve the results that are sought after. All that an investigator would really need is a second piece of ammunition shot from the same gun that committed the crime in the first place. So how do they get another piece of the suspects ammunition and what if they don't have the correct gun? The answers are simple. If they have the ammunition that was used, they just need a duplicate piece of ammo which can be bought in any local store. If they have the wrong gun, then the “toolmarks” on the replicate bullet won't match those on the damaging ammunition. While that does not necessarily help investigators to find the correct suspect, it may help to at least clear someone's name or to prove the innocence of a suspect. (Kenney,2012) One form of identification which serves the purpose that it was intended for is known as “Microstamping.” Microstamping…show more content…
Retrieved from Baltimore County Public Schools website: http://www.bcps.org/offices/science/secondary/forensic/Firearms%20and%20Ballistics.pdf Inbau, Fred, E. (1999) Firearms Identification--" Ballistics." Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, 89(4). Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=aabfff47-2ec6-471d-8873-995736fb6833%40sessionmgr10&vid=1&hid=9&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=2925461 Kenney, Dorothy (2012) Firearm Microstamp Technolog: Failing Daubert and Federal Rules of Evidence 702. Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal, 38(2). Retrieved from http://weblinks.westlaw.com/result/default.aspx?aqt=CI%28WL%29&cfid=1&db=RUCTLJ&docname=SNUM%28375969175%29&dolocate=Search&findtype=l&fn=_top&lquery=CI%28WL%29&mt=Westlaw&postype=P&rlt=CLID_FQRLT898552430132911&rp=%2FSearch%2Fdefault.wl&rs=WWCH1.0&sp=fjc_jit-1000&sr=TD&sv=Split&vr=2 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. (2010). ATF Fact Sheet - National Tracing Center. Retrieved March 19, 2004, from the ATF Web site:

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