Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
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Firearms Identification is a discipline within forensic science which has its primary concern to determine if a bullet, cartridge case, or other ammunition component was fired from a specific weapon. This determination is the result of physical examination of the subject matter by a qualified Firearm Examiner and the issuance of an expert opinion report.
A Firearm Examiner is a practtioner in Firearms Identification who analyzes firearms and tools found at crime scenes to help investigators solve criminal cases. For example, they can examine microscopic marks on bullets and cartridge cases to determine if the marks were made by a suspect’s firearm.
An Operability Study is a scientific study to determine if a firearm functions as designed by the manufacturer. This type of study is very important in gun cases. In many types of criminal cases it is import for the prosecution to prove that a subject firearm was operable at the time a crime was committed. It is equally import for the defense counsel to show that a subject firearm may not have been operable. This is an import defense in certain cases. The results of an Operability Study can be “Operable”, “Readily-Operable”, or “Inoperable”.
A Microscopic Comparison is a scientific study in which two or more pieces of evidence are examined side by side on a comparison microscope in an attempt to identify Individual Characteristics that are shared between any of these pieces of evidence. When sufficient agreement is observed between two or more items they can be determined to have been fired from the same weapon.
An Obliterated Serial Number Restoration is a scientific study to recover one or more of the required markings which have been intentionally obscured or removed from a Firearm. Many submitted firearms have the required serial number removed from the weapon in an attempt to inhibit law enforcement from determining its origin or rightful owner. This also inhibits law enforcement from determining if a subject firearm is stolen. In 1968 the federal government passed a law requiring that all firearms manufactured in, or imported into, the United States bear a serial number that is unique by manufacturer. Other markings that were required include make, model, caliber, origin country, and importers name, city and state if applicable. In most cases the serial number or other markings are obliterated from view by either gouging or grinding the marking so it can’t be seen by the naked eye. Firearms examiners can use many techniques to restore the obliterated marking to the weapon, one of which is Acid Etch. This technique employs the use of acid to burn away the metal starting at the surface in an attempt to reveal the true marking which were originally impressed into the metal. Once the serial number is determined, the firearm can be traced by its lawful sales record to its owner.