How does ACS technology compare to “ballistic fingerprinting”?
ACS technology does not require any special training or equipment for law enforcement to use other than a good magnifying glass. Recovery of the bullet code does not require any special training or skills, and it is not subjective. There is no requirement to purchase expensive computer imaging equipment, and data can be stored using current data storage methods. ACS information obtained by law enforcement will be up to date and readily useful. Ballistic fingerprinting technology is expensive to implement and maintain. Maryland spent $1.8 million just to acquire the hardware necessary for the Maryland system, while New York spent even more. Estimates for California, which has a much larger firearm market than Maryland and New York were cost prohibitive. Special skill and training is required to interpret ballistic signatures left on fired bullets and cartridge cases. Today, only a relatively small crime gun database of ballistic images exists. Millions of reference samples of expended b
