CSC Co-Chair Introduces Bill To Study Microstamping Technology

WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren, Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, introduced legislation this week, the Firearms Microstamping Evaluation and Study Act (H.R. 5667), to direct the U.S. Attorney General to work with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of firearm microstamping technology and to evaluate the technology’s cost and effectiveness. 

Microstamping is a patented process that uses a laser to engrave a firearm’s make, model, and serial number on the tip of the gun’s firing pin with the intention of imprinting this information on discharged cartridge cases.

“This legislation will look into important aspects of mandating this technology for law enforcement purposes.  I believe it would be counter-productive to force law enforcement agencies in municipalities and states to implement a technology that has not been clearly studied by the federal government as to its effectiveness and cost,” Boren said.

Boren’s legislation would ensure that a comprehensive study of this technology is undertaken prior to mandating its use for law enforcement purposes.  The study would examine whether the technology is a cost-effective law enforcement tool and determine if the benefits of mandating its use outweigh the cost to manufacturers, firearms owners, and state and local governments. 

Boren’s bill would also require the U.S. Attorney General to submit a report to Congress that explains the study’s findings, and it would prohibit the use of federal funding for microstamping technology until that report is transmitted to Congress.

“Some advocates for the use of this technology argue that the process should be mandated by law to enhance the capability of law enforcement to identify criminals who use firearms to commit violent crimes.  The feasibility and cost of mandating the use of this technology are problematic. Recent studies have raised serious questions about its reliability as a law enforcement tool,” Boren said.

Studies conducted by the University of California at Davis and the National Academy of Sciences have concluded that more must be known about this technology before its use is required by state or federal law. 

Moreover, incorporating this technology into newly produced firearms could greatly increase production costs, which would inevitably affect consumers.  According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, microstamping could increase the price per firearm by as much as $200 or more.

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