New York – -(AmmoLand.com)- In the immortal words of New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Anti-Second Amendment forces are at it once more, attempting to get the jump on enforcing the “Microstamping” of all semiautomatic handguns.
It is a curious thing that, with rising violent crime in Democrat-controlled jurisdictions, Democrats continue to blame society’s violence on firearms. They blame rising violent crime on the police. They blame it on “systemic racism.” They blame it on “white supremacists.” They blame it on Trump. They blame it on Republicans. They “Blame It On The Bossa Nova.”
The Democrats in Congress and in the States, along with the teeming mass of Progressives and Marxists throughout the Country and the seditious Press, continue to blame society’s ills on anyone and anything but where the fault truly rests;
On themselves and on their own miserable, flawed, bankrupt political, social, and economic philosophy, grounded on the tenets of Collectivism.
In an article posted recently on AmmoLand News, the NRA-ILA pointed to the Democrat Party-controlled State Legislature in Albany that will soon vote on three Anti-Second Amendment bills that recently passed out of Senate Committee. One of these three bills, the Microstamping of semiautomatic handguns, is nothing new. California was the first out of the gate with this when then California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed it into law in 2007.
An odd thing about that 2007 California law, apart from the fact that it would do nothing to reduce gun crime, is that it could never be enforced because the microstamping technology has patent law protection.
In June 2014, in a comprehensive article titled, “Microstamping: What Is It? Does It Work? Why Have It?”, detailing the many problems associated with the technology, the Arbalest Quarrel wrote, in pertinent part:
“At the time of the publication of [Dorothy] Kenney’s law journal article, [Firearm Microstamp Technology: Failing Daubert and Federal Rules of Evidence 702, 38, Rutgers Computer & Tech. L.J. (2012)], California’s microstamp technology law was in effect and had been in effect, thanks – or no thanks – to then Governor Schwarzenegger’s having signed it into law in 2007. And, Kenney said, that, ‘while the Microstamp technology law is currently in effect in California, it is owned solely by a company called Identification Dynamics, LLC, which recently acquired the U.S. patent. However, the California legislature required the Attorney General to certify that the technology was available to more than one [gun] manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions before it could take effect. In essence, the requirement does not activate until Microstamping is outside of patent protection but the manufacturing company has a patent on it that runs until approximately 2023. Thus far, this certification requirement has not been satisfied so the legislation is practically nonfunctioning.’ Be that as it may, on May 17, 2013, Rochelle C. East, the Chief Deputy Attorney General did certify, under California Penal Code Section 31910, Subdivision (b)(7)(A), that very technology. The Chief Deputy Attorney General, Rochelle, said in important part: ‘The California Department of Justice has conducted a review of the known available patent restrictions applicable to the microscopic-imprinting technology described in §31910, Subdivision (b)(7)(A). Based on this review, the department certifies that, as of May 17, 2013, this technology is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by patent restrictions.’”
In that same AQ article, we also pointed out that;
“Apparently, New York is relying on the certification report that the Chief Deputy Attorney General of California published, as New York drafts its own legislation, mandating adoption of microstamping technology in its own State.”
An excerpt of the AQ article appeared on Ammoland Shooting Sports News on June 30, 2014; and, on September 27, 2014, Arbalest Quarrel’s President, Stephen L. D’Andrilli, delivered an address on microstamping of firearms at the 29th Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference held in Chicago, Illinois. AQ posted, the day before, a summary of Stephen’s address to the Gun Rights Policy Conference.
Very recently, on May 23, 2021, California Assembly Majority Whip, Jesse Gabriel, published a Press Release, stating, inter alia,
“In collaboration with Team ENOUGH and the Brady Campaign, Assembly member Jesse Gabriel (D – Woodland Hills) announced new legislation today that would make California the first state in the nation to require firearms used by law enforcement to include microstamping technology.
The measure, Assembly Bill (AB) 876, would build on the landmark Unsafe Handgun Act (UHA) [Cal Pen Code §31910 et.seq.] and mark a major step forward in the effort to require firearms manufacturers to incorporate microstamping technology, which has long been a top priority for gun violence prevention advocates. Importantly, microstamping technology imprints unique markings—known as micro stamps—onto individual firearms as well as discharged bullet casings, thereby allowing law enforcement to connect fired casings to a particular firearm.”
Is it just coincidence that New York is now following suit with its own Microstamping Bill, to be voted on in the coming days: 2021 Bill Text NY S.B. 4116 [AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to requiring semiautomatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in this state to be capable of microstamping ammunition]?”
Even so, this isn’t the first time that New York has attempted to enact a microstamping gun law because, in 2007, the New York State Assembly introduced its Bill 2007 NY A.B. 9819. Did New York take its cue from California, back in 2007? Probably. Did the two States work together on this? Are they still working together to pass Anti-Second Amendment legislation, in tandem? To what extent are other Anti-Second Amendment jurisdictions also coordinating their efforts to destroy the Second Amendment? One can only wonder just how closely these jurisdictions are working together.
The 2007 Bill did pass the Assembly but failed in the New York State Senate. New York Anti-Second Amendment proponents had since tried, numerous times, but without success to add a microstamping requirement to the sale of all semiautomatic handguns. But, with the legislature now firmly in Democrat Party hands, 2021 Bill Text NY S.B. 4116 has better than an even chance of passage, notwithstanding the improbability of any New York State Republican Senator voting for it.
Important note: the microstamping requirement, as set forth in the Bill, were it to become New York law, does not take effect until January 1, 2023, which happens to coincide, as discussed supra, with the date that Identification Dynamics, LLC’s microstamping patent expires. And, the language of 2021 Bill Text NY S.B. 4116 makes that fact clear. Hence, any jurisdiction that has previously enacted a semiautomatic handgun microstamping law, such as California, cannot enforce the law until the expiration of the patent on January 1, 2023. But, Anti-Second Amendment jurisdictions obviously want to get a jump on that. Still, they can’t be happy with the wait.
We can already hear the grumbling in these Anti-Second Amendment jurisdictions as they are compelled to wait several more months before they can begin to enforce this draconian and ludicrous law.
ACTION NOTICE ALERT: If you live in New York, do not stand idly, doing anything. Contact your State Senator NOW and tell your New York State Senator that you oppose the enactment of this bill.
Required microstamping of semiautomatic handguns should not occur now, nor on January 1, 2023, with the expiration of Identification Dynamics, LLC’s patent, nor at any time in the future, so long as this Nation continues to exist as a free Constitutional Republic.
About The Arbalest Quarrel:
Arbalest Group created `The Arbalest Quarrel’ website for a special purpose. That purpose is to educate the American public about recent Federal and State firearms control legislation. No other website, to our knowledge, provides as deep an analysis or as thorough an analysis. Arbalest Group offers this information free.
For more information, visit: www.arbalestquarrel.com.
Wrong argument. Again. Over and over again. The law as it exists in its entirety mentions nothing about violent gun crime prevention. The law as it exists states that the government is denied the power to legislate the use, possession, and ownership of guns. It’s the second article to the highest law of the land. You should look it up, read it, and understand how it is written, and why it is written that way. What the fuck is wrong with you people that you simply cannot obtain and maintain a lawful, principled position regarding this subject? Whose side are… Read more »
This plus we also need to start changing attitudes regarding fixing this country as a whole. It’s time to accept it can’t be done at the ballot box.
Revival or bust.
17th Century French philosopher Moliere said, “To busy oneself with the correction of the world is a stupidity second to none.”
Microstamp Criminals Would Make More Sense. Criminals Obey Gun Control Laws-Like Politicians Obey their Oath of Office.
Bar Code on their forehead. I’m behind you on this idea.
OK, you are close in on the 9 ring with this statement:’bankrupt political, social, and economic philosophy,’ Here is the X ring; spiritual revival or bust. Why do I say this? First, we are a nation conceived by people of faith for a people of faith. That is how our republic works. Progressives have cast aside that clear truth in their quest for power over all things temporal. In doing so they cast aside the very virtues and virtue forming institutions that cause people not to murder, rape and steal. They avoid addressing the spiritual void and instead focus on… Read more »
You sir have ot right. This decay has been ongoing, at an accelerating rate, since shortly after the COnstitution was retified and signed into law. Sorry, I midded t me reload and fire again. The ealy discussions on the Constitution in Philadelphia FAILED to deal wiht the very satanic matter os allowing one human to hold another as chattel property, sanctioined under law. The Word is clear.. God only ade ONE RACE.. the race of Adam. ALL his descendants are made in God’s image. When they let THAT rotten apple stay in the barrel, corruptioin of the rrest of the… Read more »
Ignorant people making laws that alter technology that they know nothing about and that affects millions is the same as asking a 8-year-old to determine how best to repair a car engine. The sad part is that there are morons out there that would follow the 8-year-olds advice without question and they are the same people who believe the crap that comes out of Congress and the Senate and the claptrap put out by the anti-gun liars.
Ive jnown eight year olds who COULD d that and do it well. But NONE with even one percent of that kid’s intelligence holds any public office. My Dad and onw of his younger brothers, on their own, no instructioin or guidance whatever, removed the non-functioning engine from an old Ford parked out next the barn (the machinery graveyard, as was common on al farms in that day) dismantled it, decided which parts needed replacing, hopped on their bike and rode into town to see about the parts, ordered them, went back a week later to collect them, then reassembled… Read more »
Another pie in the sky scam brought to Americans by the civilian disarmament Marxists,”Shall Not Be Infringed”.
Sadly the level of “idiocracy” is only going to increase now that NYS has legalized “pot”. … But perhaps when it is “discovered” that there has never been a fair election held in the state, and a substitute for “Dominion” machines, mark-sense forms, government unions staffing polling places, etc. … Of course they’ll need some form of “voter ID” (now I’m on a “list”) … “Observers” – can anyone suggest a state that has fair elections, with appropriate controls to ensure integrity and laws that severely (something short of the “death penalty”) punish those that would interfere with the right… Read more »
In my very much younger years I was a voracious reader, particularly of SciFi. One of my favorite authors was/is Robert A Heinlein. I’ve probably read every word he had published, and some that he didn’t. One of his works that I’ve read several times is “Citizen of the Galaxy.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_of_the_Galaxy Why bring it up here? Because the protagonist in the story is adopted into a family of “Free Traders” who own, crew, and operate the cargo starship “Sisu.” I have no idea how many times my eyes absorbed the name of the ship without giving it much thought. Until,… Read more »
The Left has a problem with logic. Not just the everyday use of logic. They also fail miserably at the mathematical expression of logic. This shouldn’t surprise anyone given the recent statements that expecting students to get correct answers on math problems is an expression of Systemic Racism and White Privilege. In this specific example, they’re using something popularly known as “The Politician’s Syllogism” after its use in a British political satire. The Politician’s Syllogism goes like this: We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician%27s_syllogism Note that as in the case above, there is… Read more »
Progressive public policy is based upon a false premise. That false premis is this: government can mentor the human soul. In the attempt to create a Brave New World progressives and leftists of all stripes create hell on earth. But they feel very good while doing so because in doing ‘policy’ they get that euphoric feeling of having accomplished something. By refusing to look back upon previous public policy actions and their consequences they can continue to press forward and avoid the smell of the smouldering mess they leave behind them. War on Poverty is a good example of this.
Blame the prosecutors who plea deal gun charges away, Judges who impose concurrent not consecutive sentences for firearms law felons.
Already a crime to use a weapon to harm or kill a citizen.
Microstamps are a joke, just like cataloging the spend case from a pistol, MD learned the hard way just like Canada.
WHAT IF the current owner of the patent rights were to sell that “intellectual property” to some third party, who would then have a new twenty five year run on control of it?
Next, in order to curb traffic related deaths wise legislators have mandated the automotive industry switch to teleportation…
Problem is, the rock in your yard has about the same level of computing power as all of the Beltway put together! 🙂
How about launching a campaign to declare that this marking system is racist. It will end up entrapping a disproportionate number of members of cartain demographic groups that are “protected species” and thus cannot be allowed to be so entrapped. The argument, and “chain of action/reaction” does not even have to be logical or ratioinal. Just start proclaiming “microstamping is racist and therefore mmust not be allowed to proceed”.
Micro-stamping a California original designed to eliminate new handguns from being sold. Only applies to auto loading handguns, not revolvers, rifles or shotguns. As evidenced by CA dwindling handgun roster, there are none available with this ridiculous feature that I’m aware of. Designed by democrats, this is just another law does nothing to stop criminals. Reducing available firearms is just one piece of the ultimate goal to eliminate the Second Amendment and disarm the American people .
Congress has been known in the past to extend patents legislatively. Maybe, for once, this would be a good use of that practice.
“The Democrats in Congress and in the States, along with the teeming mass of Progressives and Marxists throughout the Country and the seditious Press, continue to blame society’s ills on anyone and anything but where the fault truly rests;
On themselves and on their own miserable, flawed, bankrupt political, social, and economic philosophy, grounded on the tenets of Collectivism.
. . . and what about the people and culture in the inner city neighborhoods where the bulk of all this crime and violence is taking place?
Did you know that the infamous Hi-Point Firearms are specifically designed to aid investigative forensics at crime scenes? And all without any punitive taxes, or endless new laws, or impossibly expensive future fantasyland machining. In fact, Hi-Points are some of the LOWEST COST firearms around. My source? – An old article from the American Rifleman, official publication of the NRA: Hi-Point Firearms And The Man Behind Themby C. Rodney James – Wednesday, March 30, 2016 https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/3/30/hi-point-firearms-and-the-man-behind-them/ – – – Excerpt – – – “Deeb became fascinated with the science of forensic firearm examination, which is how, as an examiner, I met… Read more »
Then you would have criminals stealing ammunition and use it in their guns and the person that they stole it from would get the blame. We don’t want ammo that has been micro stamped!!!
Musicman44mag, you are right. It is stamped when fired. What is interesting is reloaded ammo. You could conceivably have a case with many microstamps all from different guns. I presume older ones would would wear down so newer ones would be identifiable. But would this be “beyond a reasonable doubt.” I don’t imagine many run of the mill criminals reload, but one could pick up microstamped brass at a range, reload it for his own nefarious use, taking care to preserve the marks, shoot it with a gun that does not microstamp, and at least have a diversion of investigative… Read more »
If I’m not mistaken, the firing pin does the stamping and the primmer gets the information imprint. Once you pop out the primmer and reload, you have nothing to worry about.
This ridiculous idea would be so easy to defeat. If the micro identification is imprinted on the firing pin. A few swipes with a ceramic stone would easily polish off all the information. Also, why would criminals even care, since the gun is stolen or not originally purchased under their name. Really a dumb and expensive idea. But ant-gunners don’t care, they like making things expensive for gun owners.
other ways to win the “fooil da gummit” game: stolen guns, as mentioned. Use a casing collector bag. I’ve seen thisein use at ranges. Carry a pocket full of scavenged brass from wherever, in the same calibre as the gun you will be using for yuor nefarious activity. Seed the crime scene with these. Now, WHICH one of the ten different stamped numbers is the one from the round that killed that cop? Buy a goodl suppl of new non-numbered firing pins prior to the magic pumpkin date of the bill. Now you have a stock of clean pins. Use… Read more »
Exactly so, and besides the firing pin is easily replaced. The criminal wouldn’t even need a stone for that. Within the first few weeks every criminal will know that simple workaround.
Microstamping is a most foolish idea indeed. Not that the authorities care. They can’t understand a word of this. Anything real life is all Greek to them, like a bunch of Bidenspeak gibberish.They barely know which way is up. Barely There Biden is about their standard intelligence level.
I definitely agree this is ridiculous. But when has that stopped the antis? If you look at the picture at the top of the article, there is what appears to be a stamping on both the firing pin indentation and on the left side of the case head, just above the 40. This means there is also a marking device on the breech face. Of course, the picture could be Photoshopped. Also, rotating the case a bit, would put the putative microstamp from the breechface directly on the headstamp making an incomplete marking.
I think the idea is for the firing pin to microstamp the primer, NOT the brass. Problem is, nobody knows because microstamping doesn’t exist, except as a wet dream in the beltway crowd’s feverish daydreams. The reason it doesn’t exist, and likely never will, is that the pressure in the chamber pushes the primer back against the breechblock during the projectile’s travel down the barrel. This is why excess headspace is so dangerous. If the breechblock has too much play, it will allow the brass to stretch to the point of failure, and blow the muzzle blast out into the… Read more »
Most fired primers in 9 mm and .40 S&W that I have seen look like they are cratered, and shaved by the firing pin hole, and I’m talking standard pressure commercial rounds, not +p or hot reloads.
Duh?