This press release provides the findings of a study conducted by the National Research Council on the feasibility of creating a national database of ballistic images for law enforcement use. The National Institute of Justice requested the study and envisioned a database that would catalogue images of cartridge casings from firings of new and imported guns sold in the U.S. The National Research Council stated that a database at this time would be inadvisable for the following reasons: current technology cannot distinguish fine differences in toolmarks making the likelihood of returning large results in a database search high, and the fact that different ammunition could be used in a crime that differs from the type included in the database creates the possibility of false matches.

The Council provided 15 recommendations for the ATF's National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to improve the operation and technical aspects of the existing database, including the addition of multiple images of the same gun and the inclusion of multiple ammunition types.

The report also stated that additional scientific testing would be needed before ballistics experts could justifiably say that identified toolmarks match a specific gun. Recommendations as to the type and scope of such studies are provided.

Finally, the Council recommended continuing research into "microstamping" gun parts or ammunition with unique identifiers, noting that more extensive study of the longevity of microstamps and the ability to tamper with the stamp are needed.

Note: A free copy of the full report is available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12162