The current situation of gun control deals with many issues. Ballistic fingerprinting is one of the most controversial aspects of gun control in today’s society. Ballistic fingerprinting, also known as IBIS, short for integrated ballistics identification system, is the process of looking at the “fingerprint” of a bullet. Bullets and shell casings fired from a handgun contain unique markings, which can be linked to the gun from which it was fired. In order to identify the “fingerprint” the gun must be test fired before it is sold. The “fingerprints” can then be entered into a computer and are accessible to law enforcement agencies. Currently, New York and Maryland are the only two states who have enacted the law (Ballistic Fingerprinting 1). There are many pros and cons with this act. People say that the actual handgun at the crime is rarely left there, making gun tracing impossible. However, shell casings and bullets are often found at the crime scene. The IBIS system will increase law enforcement’s ability to link guns with crimes. This may sound like a very good idea but as with anything, there are downsides. Millions of dollars will need to be spent to keep databases and records containing all of the necessary information. Also, ballistic markings from bullets and shell casings can be altered, rendering the fingerprinting useless. In addition, gun barrels change throughout their life. With repeated firing, the marks and grooves in the barrel change, causing different markings on the shell or bullet. The guns chamber can also be cleaned (Ballistic Fingerprinting 2). In order for this all to work correctly, the gun has to be test fired and registered. But, what criminal is likely to register a gun? In most cases, guns are obtained illegally and are not registered, so it does not do any good to have this million-dollar project. Furthermore, law-abiding citizens who register their guns may have gotten their gun stolen, linking the “good” person to the crime. Although there are drawbacks, it is a good thing to consider in the near future if gun violence does not diminish. Another thing that is happening in today’s society is gun registration. The country already has some gun registration laws but they are looking to make them even stricter to help control the problem of gun violence. Guns do not turn ordinary people into murderers. “Fewer than one gun owner in three thousand commits homicide” (Kopel 5). If anything, guns in the right hands of a law-abiding citizen can be a valuable tool. Whenever gun control is brought up, attention immediately goes to the second amendment, which states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”.

The original intent of the second amendment was to protect individual rights. It has often been too ignored by federal courts. Gun control laws betray constitutional freedoms by maintaining ill-gotten government powers at the expense of individual rights (Halbrook 109). Gun control laws are not effective for public safety. At best, they display what the state government compromised their power to the federal gover

Some topics in this essay:
Ballistic Fingerprinting, Weapons America, National Guard, Firearms License, Supreme Court, Japan’s” Huelsman, gun control, Association NRA, Illinois Burton, Firearms Act, Protection Act, ballistic fingerprinting, gun violence, guncite 1, gov info 1, today’s society, own gun, gun registration, law-abiding citizens, info 1, gov info, gun control laws, gun registration laws, bullets shell casings, gun test fired,