In order to make it easier to match bullet shell casings with the gun that fired them, some have suggested that microscopic stamps be fitted to firearms. These stamps would leave a unique imprint on the shell casing each time the gun was fired. Using this microscopic imprint, law enforcement would be able to match up shell casings with the last registered owner of the firearm [Wired].

No system is perfect, but this one seems like a good idea. First of all, it doesn't hurt anyone. According to Todd Lizote, vice president of NanoVia, the company that makes these microscopic stamps, adding the stamp to a firearm would add $4 to $5 to the price of each firearm. That seems reasonable to me. With an individual gun costing $300 or more, an extra $5 is not that much. Depending on where you bought it, you would pay more than that in sales tax.

It is important to remember that most murders committed in the U.S. are not by criminal masterminds or "The Sniper". Most people who commit murder do not plan their murders as thoroughly and having a stamping system would undoubtedly help police apprehend and convict a good number of these normal, every day criminals.

Stamping casings would add a modest cost to firearms, but it would not tread on the civil rights of the gun owner. With its potential to help law enforcement in many cases, stamping shell casings seems to be in the best interest of ordinary citizens.
11:15:14 AM