National Academy of Sciences Opposes Ballistic Imaging Database and Questions Microstamping Technology

On March 5, 2008, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released an extensive study on the feasibility of a national ballistic imaging database(sometimes misleadingly referred to as “ballistic fingerprinting”). The study concludes, “A national database containing images of ballistic markings from all new and imported guns sold in the U.S. should not be created at this time”.

The contemplated national ballistic imaging system would require that a fired cartridge casing from every newly manufactured and imported firearm sold at retail in the United States be sent to a federal agency to be imaged and up-loaded into a massive government-run database.

Forensic experts at the California Department of Justice raised questions about the feasibility of such a system when the California legislature was considering establishing a statewide system like New York and Maryland. The California DOJ concluded, “Automated computer matching [ballistic imaging] systems do not provide conclusive results.”

The Maryland and New York ballistic imaging programs have been in place for almost a decade but neither has produced a single arrest or prosecution despite several million dollars of taxpayer funding. The Maryland State Police Department has called for their program to be repealed.

In the NAS study, the NAS researchers questioned the validity of the science underlying this technology. “The fundamental assumption underlying forensic firearms identification – that every gun leaves microscopic marks on bullets and cartridge cases that are unique to that weapon and remain the same over repeated firings – has not yet been fully demonstrated scientifically. A number of problems would hinder the usefulness and accuracy of a national database.”

NAS Questions Micro-Stamping
The NAS study also examined a newly developed technology called “firearms microstamping”. Microstamping is a patented sole-source process that laser engraves the firearm’s make, model and serial number on the tip of the gun’s firing pin so that, in theory, it imprints the information on discharged cartridge cases.

A recent peer-reviewed study published in the professional journal for forensic firearms examiners proved that the technology of microstamping is unreliable and does not function as the patent holder claims. It can be easily defeated in mere seconds using common household tools or criminals could simply switch the engraved firing pin for readily available unmarked spare parts.

Experts at the University of California at Davis recently finished a study of the technology. The U.C. Davis researchers found the technology “flawed” and concluded that “further testing, analysis and evaluation is required.” Similarly, the NAS report noted that “further studies are needed on the durability of microstamping marks under various firing conditions and their susceptibility to tampering, as well as on the their cost impact for manufacturers and consumers.”

Last year California enacted legislation to require that all new models of semi-automatic pistols sold in the state be microstamped beginning January, 2010. “Microstamping will add approximately $200 to the price of each firearm,” noted NSSF Sr. VP and Gen’l Counsel Lawrence Keane.

This news report was provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

CLICK HERE for Ballistic Imaging Fact Sheet.

CLICK HERE for Info on Firearms Microstamping.

AHSA Supports Anti-Gun Politicians

You may have received donation requests from an organization called the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA). Beware. The American Hunters and Shooters Association entices hunters and sportsmen into contributing money by claiming to share their interests. From the group’s name, you’d think its primary purpose is to promote shooting and hunting. Wrong. The AHSA has supported anti-gun lawsuits and gun bans. AHSA’s leaders have given money to the Brady Campaign and to anti-gun politicians like John Kerry, Al Gore, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, and Ted Kennedy. We’re not surprised that the AHSA refuses to refund any donations.

The NSSF (Nat’l Shooting Sports Foundation) and NRA believe that the AHSA is an anti-gun front group. The NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action states that the “AHSA would be more correctly called the ‘American Association for the Protection of Anti-Gun Politicians’.” Notably, in its “friend of the court” brief in the D.C. vs. Heller case, the AHSA states: “The argument advanced by [AHSA] would in no way prevent the D.C. Council from enacting reasonable regulations…. the District’s Gun Law was a laudable effort.” No organization that truly supported individual Second Amendment rights would make such a statement in an important legal proceeding.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Practices of the AHSA

Sioux Soldier Awarded Medal of Honor

On March 3, 2008, 57 years after extraordinary acts of heroism in the Korean War, M. Sgt. Woodrow Wilson (“Woody”) Keeble, was awarded the Medal of Honor. Keeble was a full-blooded Sioux, the first to be so honored. Keeble, who passed away in 1982, was twice recommended for the nation’s highest honor decades ago, but the nomination papers were lost. Through a special act of Congress, he was finally honored.

This is a story worth telling. A much-decorated veteran of the War in the Pacific, Keeble fought at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and in the Philippines. When he volunteered to fight again in Korea, he told officers: ““Somebody has to teach these kids how to fight.”

Keeble, known as “Chief” to his fellow soldiers, was immensely strong and athletic. He was recruited by the Chicago White Sox as a baseball pitcher, but the war came along. Nearly a head taller than most of his fellow soldiers, he was an expert with the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). His other great weapon was his pitching arm–he could toss grenades like baseballs. James Fenelon, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota who fought with Keeble on Guadalcanal, once remarked that “The safest place to be was right next to Woody.”

In Korea — Taking a Hill Single-Handed
The events leading to Keeble’s Medal of Honor took place from October 15-20, 1951. Attached to the 19th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Div., Keeble’s unit had to take a series of hills protecting an enemy supply depot in Kumsong.

Official records confirm Keeble was initially wounded on October 15, and then again on October 17, 18 and 20. For his bravery on the 18th he was awarded a Silver Star. His heroism on the 20th made Keeble a legend and earned him the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor.

Keeble’s company was in its sixth day of round-the-clock fighting. They were facing entrenched Chinese soldiers on Hill 675-770, the last remaining mountain between UN forces and Kumsong. Keeble had already sustained two rifle wounds to his left arm, a face wound, and 83 pieces of shrapnel from a concussion grenade. On the 20th, Medic Dale Selby told Keeble to stay back because of his wounds, but Keeble refused to let his men go up the mountain without him.

On October 20th, replacing officers who had fallen in combat, Keeble was serving as an acting platoon leader with an infantry company. On that date Sergeant Keeble’s company was moving forward in an attack against Chinese forces on a hilltop. Leading the support platoon, Sergeant Keeble suddenly saw that the attacking elements had become pinned down on the precipitous slope by a murderous volume of fire of machine-gun positions from three well-fortified and carefully placed enemy positions.

With complete disregard for his personal safety, he dashed forward and joined the pinned-down platoon. Then, hugging the ground, he crawled forward alone until he was in close proximity to one of the hostile machine-gun emplacements. Ignoring the stream of fire which the enemy crew trained on him, he activated a grenade and, throwing it with great accuracy, successfully destroyed the position.

Continuing his one-man assault, he moved to the second enemy position and destroyed it with another grenade. Despite the fact that the hostile troops were now directing their entire firepower against him and unleashing a shower of grenades in a fanatic attempt to stop his advance, he moved forward against the third hostile emplacement. Stunned by an enemy concussion grenade, he hesitated only long enough to regain his senses, then renewed his assault and skillful neutralized the remaining enemy position with exceptionally accurate rifle fire.

Single-handedly, Keeble destroyed three enemy machine-gun bunkers and killed an additional seven enemy soldiers in nearby trenches.

Later in life, Keeble fell on hard times and was forced to pawn his medals. Keeble’s family was presented with a duplicate set of medals in May 2006, and they, along with his uniform and other memorabilia, are housed at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Medal of Honor Ceremony
At the March 3rd, 2008 ceremony honoring Woody Keeble at the White House, President Bush recounted: “Woody Keeble’s act of heroism saved many American lives, and earned him a permanent place in his fellow soldiers’ hearts. Years later, some of those tough soldiers’ eyes would fill with tears when they saw Woody again. One said: ‘He was the most respected person I ever knew in my life.’ Another said: ‘I would have followed him anywhere.’

… On behalf of our grateful nation, I deeply regret that this tribute comes decades too late. Woody will never hold this Medal in his hands or wear it on his uniform. He will never hear a President thank him for his heroism. He will never stand here to see the pride of his friends and loved ones, as I see in their eyes now. But there are some things we can still do for him. We can tell his story. We can honor his memory.

At the request of the Keeble family and in accordance with the Sioux tradition, two empty chairs have been placed on this stage to represent Woody and [his wife] Blossom and to acknowledge their passing into the spiritual world. The Sioux have a saying: ‘The life of a man is a circle.’ Well, today, we complete Woody Keeble’s circle — from an example to his men to an example for the ages. And if we honor his life and take lessons from his good and noble service, then Master Sergeant Woody Keeble will serve his country once again.”

CLICK HERE for full transcript of Medal of Honor Ceremony

CLICK HERE to view MSNBC Video on Woody Keeble

Origins of 30 BR and 22 BR Cartridges

We received an interesting email recently from Daniel R. He was involved, some three decades ago, in the pioneering development of the 30 BR cartridge. In our 30BR Cartridge Guide, we explained how the 30 BR really started to take off ten years ago, when score shooters, such as Joe Entrekin, started using it with immediate success. But, according to Daniel, the 30 BR was really “invented” some 30 years ago. Daniel explains:

“I was interested to read that the 30BR has taken off finally in the benchrest world. I do however have a few tidbits to add to the true history of the 30BR cartridge. I believe that Keith Francis (JGS Precision) make the first chamber reamer for the 30BR in 1978 for me. I chambered my Hart 4A Heavy Benchrest bag gun and went off to an IBS early season 100-yard match held at Englishtown, NJ. Naturally I was the brunt of many jokes and sneers of my fellow benchrest shooters. I was shooting 140gr bullets that I made on short Sierra jackets in Homer Culver dies. The 10-shot aggregate was something in the low 3s (respectable heavy bench bag gun agg in those days). After that match I lent the reamer to a notable Pennsylvania gunsmith and many of the IBS hunter class guys had 30BRs within the next few weeks[.]”

In this photo, on left, you see a 30BR case after expansion. Note the ridge at the base of the neck. This needs to be removed via neck-turning.

Birth of the 22BR
Daniel was also an “early adopter” of the 22 BR cartridge, and he believes it can hold its own vs. the now-dominent 6 PPC case. Daniel writes:

“I believe that I was among the first dozen of benchrest shooters (other than Jim Stekl) to compete with the 22 BR. Jim and I had met at the IBS shoots in Johnstown, NY in 1975. I had Keith make me a custom tight neck (0.240″) reamer with a throat suitable to handle the Remington Match 52-grain bullets in 1977 and shot three 5-shot groups working up initial loads with Norma 202 that were 0.043″, 0.068″ & 0.017″! Like so many I finally let Doc and Ferris talk me in to shooting the PPC, but I came back to the little 22BR in 1989 and placed second in the NBRSA Championships LV 100-yard aggregate held at George Kelbly’s place against a sea of 6PPCs.”

22 BR Cartridge Diagram

Daniel reminds us: “This family of cartridges has come a long way from the days when you had to have a 4-die set to size and shape your hand selected 308 cases to get a working BR case. I can remember taking three weeks one winter to form and size the brass to campaign on the IBS and NBRSA circuits the following summer. Now we can buy them. I no longer shoot competitively, but I still have a few 22, 6 and 30 BR barrels for guns that I own. Keep in mind that there would not be any BR at all without the hard work and perseverance of one Mr. Jim Stekl (Mike Walker’s successor at Remington). If Jim had not fought so hard to keep this little cartridge alive it would not be here today.”