Firearm Evidence Research Paper

Forensic ballistics and firearm investigation begin when the bullets, cartridges, a weapon, or any combination of the above found at a crime scene. With the evidence, a crime laboratory will explore for clues on some things that might cause a suspect or possible to prove that the things were used in the crime. By contrast, the markings on the bullets or cartridges found at the scene with those discharged from the suspect’s weapon, a ballistics expert will typically confirm if the rounds came from a similar weapon. Just the act of cycling a cartridge through the weapon without firing it will leave permanent scratches on the case that is distinctive to the weapon.

Physical Evidence has always been a key factor in solving any crime scene. It is any evidence that could tell the investigators about the crime being investigated. Physical evidence which is found at the crime scene is good evidence to link the details on what occurred. It is also good evidence to find the suspect and also the victim in some cases. This paper will discuss a variety of physical evidence like DNA, firearms and ballistics, and also drug evidence. It will also discuss how they are collected, documented and preserved.

What do you think would be the most interesting aspect of working with firearm evidence? What do you think would be the most challenging part?

If I were in charge of retrieving bullets at a crime scene I’d first I would have to find a way to remove the bullet out while preserving any possible markings on the bullet. Then the bullets can be placed into a marked container for identification purposes. Then to transport the bullet to the crime laboratory, I’d wrap the bullet in tissue paper and placed in an envelope or pillbox. I would have to be careful with the handling and packaging of the bullet, because I would have to be careful to preserve any trace evidence that might be present on the bullet.

I would start by collecting the suicide note and have the lab examine it for any fingerprints or any other DNA. Also I would have a handwriting analyst examine the writing on the note compared to the history of the victim’s day-to-day handwriting. Then I would start to examine the body. I would look at enter and exit wounds from the bullet to see it they are in a line that would make sense of a suicide. I would check the firearm for fingerprints and do a ballistics test on the bullet to make sure it came from that specific gun. Also I would check the body for any kind of physical bruising or wounds that would suggest a struggle.

He said, “I did not clearly see the person, but it looked like a women…well that shot the man. It was odd because he also had a gun.” This comes to our second clue, there were 5 guns found, one with no bullets an one with only two. After a forensic report, they could not find prints of neither gun. The individual with 5 bullets gun was wearing gloves and the second person with no bullets had mud covered with it.

When evidence is gathered, different equipment and processes are used to determinate what it means. In 2011, the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated that 8,583 murder victims, in the United States, died because of a firearm. Forensic scientist can use equipment, such as the Integrated Ballistic Identification System, to find what firearm was used (Bureau). "They used a shotgun loaded with double-O buckshot. Inside the casing for each shot are nine

Hey, Parents! We are excited to introduce a gun safety course for the Boy Scouts at the Guadalupe-Parkway Sommerville Centers. The duration of the program will last four weeks, with the last week being live shooting from a gun range. Our purpose in this gun safety course is to provide our Boy Scouts with knowledge when it comes to firearm safety. We want to teach them how to handle properly a firearm and know what to do in the presences of a firearm.

Firearms that are left behind at a crime scene can be extremely helpful. This evidence includes not only the firearm itself but also the ammunition used in the firearm, componets that make up the firearms, and the residue that comes out when the

The case that was researched is the case of the people vs. Robert Blake. In this case it is stated that the husband Robert Blake murdered his wife Bonnie Bakley. It was determined that Mr.Blake fired shots from a world war 2 vintage 9mm Walther P38 Luger pistol. The weapon was found in a dumpster near where Mr. Blake parked his car and was covered with dirt and motor oil. The 9mm pistol was cleaned and tested fired. And the gun was fired to see if it would leave gunshot residue behind after being fired.

Although, many people think mental health tests would reduce deaths caused by gun shootings, I think they won’t do much of a difference in the country.

In the event that any firearm is discovered at a crime scene there are certain steps that need to be done in order to properly collect any type of firearm evidence. If there is any kind of firearm found at the scene it should be rendered safe immediately. For safety is the first priority at any crime scene. Forensic technicians should assign an evidence number to the firearm, photograph orientation and close-up view’s, and take measurements of the firearm’s location prior to collecting it. In order to deem a semiautomatic pistol safe, the forensic technician should be wearing latex gloves an unload the weapon as follows; (Tina Young, 2011)

Let us start on how to collect and process expended projectiles and cartridge casings. When collecting expended casings, projectiles and remnants of shotgun ammunition each one should be numbered, photographed and measured for placement in a crime scene sketch (Tina Young, 2011). Each one collected should be placed in a pillbox or coin envelope then those should be placed into bigger envelopes or bags (Tina Young, 2011). If a projectile is stuck in a wall the section of the wall where the projectile is located should be removed (Tina Young, 2011). If a firearm found at a crime scene the best way to link it to the crime or other crimes is to test fire it into a water tank or ballistic gel. Once this has been done, the forensic tech can then compare the bullet and casing using a microscope. (Tina Young, 2011). If the firearm is not located then the casing or bullet can be ran through the National Ballistic Database. Now that we have talked about rendering firearms safe and also how they should be processed, now we can look at what information can be gained from the firearm and the cartridges and

As firearm production began to become more advance and higher quality in the assembly process it opened more ways for investigators to attack firearm crimes. The range of evidence that can be recovered from a firearm-involved case can be as small as a bullet fragment that holds the rifling markings from the firearm to the firearm itself. The firearm itself is a highly anticipated form of evidence that investigators will search for because of the information it can possess. The firearm itself can hold many different forms of evidence such as the firearm serial number. In 1968 the United States passed the Gun Control Act, which obligates that all guns manufactured or imported to the USA must obtain a serial number ("Gun Control Act | ATF", 2016). If the firearm possesses a serial number it will allow

“A component of ammunition (casing and/or projectile) from the crime scene can be identified to the firearm that fired it to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty” Hernandez, G. (n.d.). At any given time that a weapon is fired, there is that natural tendency that a unique print is left on the fired weapon. This print appears in the form of unique impressions or striations also called tool marks. The Evidence of Casing or projectile from any crime scene would be traced to a firearm in the possession of a potential suspect, and would represent as an evidence against that suspect.