title: Ballistic fingerprinting databases.
abstract: This article discusses a number of questions regarding the setting up of ballistic fingerprinting databases, consisting of ammunition components fired by all the firearms held in legal possession. These questions can be classified into three categories--the efficiency of the database, forensic issues, and practical issues to be dealt with. The current New York State legislation is used as an illustration of the choices to be made when setting up a ballistic fingerprinting database. Three important arguments are formulated against the installation of a ballistic fingerprinting database.
authors.affiliation: Nationaal Instituut voor Criminalistiek en Criminologie (NICC-INCC), Vilvoordsesteenweg 98-100, B-1120 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Kinder
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D012926:Social Control, Formal