On January 1st a new law will take effect that will require all semi-automatic handguns to have the capability to imprint identification on each expended cartridge case when it is fired. The legislature passed AB 1471 Feurer in 2007 that mandated this technology on all new pistols starting in 2010. The main drawback to this law is there are no firearms manufactured with this capability. The patent holder has not relaxed the restrictions to implement his invention. It has been theorized that this will ocurr in the near future.

During arguments for the bill some legislators postured as if they were experts in firearms design and manufacturing processes and proferred cost estimates for the implementation of this technology. Their highly simplistic prognostications bordered on buffonery with the insanely low estimate of $7-8 per gun. The estimates from the major gun manufacturers for extensive modification of product and reengineering the production process amounted to hundreds of dollars per gun. These costs, of course, will be passed on to the consumer,

Governor Swartzenegger signed the bill into law under the recommendations of some law enforcement agencies that traditionally support any new restrictions on firearms and law abiding citizens. Totally ignored are the crooks, thugs and hoodlums that just ignore an orderly society and the laws that govern it. Pro-criminal legislation such as this, the ammo registration boondoggle, Firearms Safety Certificates, the life threarening 10 day waiting period, gun registrations, bans on high capacity magazines and semi automatic firearms do not affect law breakers. The sob stories, political propaganda and skewed studies by pseudo-scientist political fops tenured by otherwise reputable universities and esteemed centers of learning serve only to justify more attacks on the rights of citizens and promote further contempt of the laws that govern society rather provide law enforcement with useable and enforceable laws

Will this technology assist law enforcement? Doubtful. There are too many drawbacks and limitations to be of any use to police such as: normal wear and tear of firearm components that results in a gradual degradation of the quality of the imprints. Is there a mechanism in the law that allows for economical replacement of worn parts to assure quality imprints on the cartridge case? Is the current process of transferring a gun through a licensed dealer adequate to perpetuate the data base generated by AB1471. Doesn't this law violate the federal Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986 that prohibits gun registration?

The law is entirely dependent on a reliably law abiding society, however pipe dreams seem to be the norm in firearms legislation no matter the city, state, country or continent.