Attorney General Matthew Platkin (D) revealed his state’s intention to require guns sold in New Jersey to feature unproven and unreliable microstamp technology. In theory this would leave a unique stamp on each spent shell casing, thus enabling law enforcement to track firearms.
In theory.
In practice, it is a far different tale. Maryland enacted similar legislation for a decade and a half only to end it when millions poured into it proved to be a waste of taxpayer resources. The state ultimately mothballed the program as unworkable after spending $5 million to maintain a microstamp database that accomplished nothing.
Even in weapons with microstamping capabilities, the NRA correctly noted that it is a simple process to bypass the identifier. The supposedly high-tech gadgetry “can be defeated with common hand tools in under a minute.”
Further, all criminals would need to do is revert to old-fashioned revolvers since the technology is only applicable to semiautomatic weapons. If it in fact worked.
Platkin still extolled the virtues of the program as a boon for state law enforcement. “This amazing yet straightforward technology — imprinting unique identifiers on the firing pins of firearms — will have a profound impact on public safety across the state.”
On Tuesday, the AG said that his office now has a protocol for handguns to be registered in New Jersey’s microstamping-enabled firearms roster.
Firearms must now imprint a “identifying marker” on spent cartridge cases. He added that the process must remain clear when firing rounds and perform with the reliability of other weapons sold in the state. The firearm must “otherwise comply with all applicable State and federal laws.”
This program has proven to be a pipe dream held onto by only a few anti-gun leaders who ignore technological reality. It is yet another case of doing “something” that will yield little to no results and ignoring obvious measures that would.
