Hawaii introduces bullet serialization bill

[ericire12]

http://www.khon2.com/home/ticker/38514554.html

A bill that would require all handgun ammunition in Hawaii to be stamped with special codes by the beginning of next year is drawing fire from gun rights advocates.

The measure was introduced by Representatives John Mizuno and Tom Brower. Brower told Khon2 that seventeen other states are considering similar measures.

“About a third of all gun crimes in America go unsolved,” said Brower, “so what we want to do is help law enforcement have a more successful time in tracking down criminals in Hawaii.”

The legislation (HB 88) would tax every bullet sold in Hawaii by .005 cents, setting up a fund to help the state Attorney General’s office administer the program. Ammunition vendors would be required to track who purchases the coded bullets and keep those records on file for seven years.

Gun store owner Art Ong believes if the law is passed it would only accomplish one thing.

“You're looking at exponential increase in the cost of ammunition because of the cost to ramp up the manufacturers to put a serial number on the bottom of the bullet. I see it as more government trying to control the lives of people by taxing and serializing bullets.”

In 2004 the California Department of Justice tested serialized bullets. The agency found that out of 181 coded bullets recovered from a firing range, 180 were readable. The test utilized the most common caliber of handguns including .45, .38 and 9 mm.

Brower said he will try to galvanize support for the bill ahead of a scheduled hearing Thursday morning before the House Committee on Public Safety. The hearing starts at 8:30 a.m.

“We're going to contact community groups and people who have been on the other end of the barrel of a gun,” said the representative. “We want them to come out and support this measure and hopefully create a safer community.”

Ong contends if safety is the goal of the bullet bill, then the coding of handgun ammunition misses the mark.

“I don't see it as a constructive law that is going to help reduce crime. If you look at the statistics of how many crimes in Hawaii are actually unsolved with firearms, how many violent crimes are actually committed in Hawaii I think you'll find that it's very, very low.”

Brower believes the serializing of ammunition is inevitable.

“If this bill is not successful this year I think it's just a matter of time before this is the direction we go to.”

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.

[MikeBjerum]

(copied and pasted my post from the Georgia thread, because that is the easy way)

Another round for the useless, worthless, expensive, punative Bill 

Stand strong and turn it away like every other State has done so far.  Note that I did not say it will be turned down, but rather that we need to work to make sure it is turned away.

[Thanos]

In 2004 the California Department of Justice tested serialized bullets. The agency found that out of 181 coded bullets recovered from a firing range, 180 were readable. The test utilized the most common caliber of handguns including .45, .38 and 9 mm.

Of course all 181 and all 181 cases could be traced back to which gun they were fired out of my the rifling on the bullet amrks from the extractor...Stupid morons must be reporting this stuff.

Oh, right. They are.