Putting markers on ammunition

Re “Bullets can tell tales,” editorial, May 24

Firearm “microstamping” has nothing to do with bullets, only with casings or “brass.” Outlaws may be gathering casings now to reload the brass. You say behavior will not change if a state Assembly bill to require microstamping passes. That is a ridiculous assumption.

L.A. Police Chief William J. Bratton testified last year that most weapons recovered from outlaws are not registered. Every gun originally sold in the state is registered with the California Department of Justice. Outlaws buy on the black market, not in gun shops. Microstamping will not change this behavior or affect most outlaws.

What if brass is reloaded and refired from a weapon that does stamp? Which number is the real number, if the numbers are not written over so as to be illegible? The black market supplies guns. Why not parts to replace the ones that stamp?

Microstamping will not aid citizens in defending themselves; it only could be useful after the crime has been committed. Revolvers are exempt. If microstamping is so important and effective, why is that?

GEORGE SCHIRTZINGER

Pasadena

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The Times was on the verge of revealing the abject folly of placing microscopic markers on shell casings when it abruptly stopped short.

The Times thought it ridiculous that someone would gather used cartridges from a gun range and spread them around a crime scene. It failed to note, however, that most discount ammunition is remanufactured from brass casings obtained from shooting venues such as ranges and that, through generations of recycling such brass, would lead to different “identifiers” on shell casings.

The foil to microstamping will be easy, cheap and insurmountable in any court.

BRUCE JOHNSON

Dana Point