Firearm Evidence Research Paper

An investigation involving a firearm is a specialty of forensic science which focuses on the examination of firearms linked to ballistics. Ballistics is related to finding out the exact flight path of projectiles. Ballistics is the area of study that examines the exact path of the bullet from the moment it leaves the muzzle of the firearm up until it hits the target. During examination many items are collected for evidence including the firearm, bullets, live ammunition, cartridge casings, trace materials such as powder residue, and anything damaged by the projectile. Firearms are often divided into three processes: Internal, External, and Terminal Ballistics. Internal refers to the inside of the firearm; the space of time in which the shooter pulls the trigger, and the when the bullet is exiting. External ballistics is the flight between leaving the muzzle of the firearm, and it striking its target. Terminal ballistics is the impact of ballistics that refers to the examination in which the projectile strikes a target. All firearms leave markings on the cartridge casings once expelled when firing. Ballistic identification and microstamping laws make it possible to link a cartridge recovered to the

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.

Why do you think it is so important that all evidence be identified (such as marking the bullets and tagging firearms)? What consequences might result if these procedures were not followed?

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.

Since 1982, at least sixty-two mass shootings have occurred, thirty-two of them since 2006. (Aronsen). Jared Loughner was sentenced to life in prison after shooting nineteen people in January of 2011. Last July, fifty-eight people were shot and twelve killed while watching the new Batman movie in a theater in Colorado. In December, twenty-six people were murdered, including twenty first-graders, in a Connecticut elementary school (Follman). The issue of gun violence only becomes relevant after a horrific event such as these, then fades from public concern after about two weeks. The number of injuries and murders using guns in the United States is a large number, which can hopefully be

We found a 40 caliber at the house that matched the casings from the scene, we diagramed the location and the condition as well as photographed before recovering and securing. I examined to see if the weapon was loaded and it was not. I marked the position of the cylinder, using two pen marks I put on the top of the cylinder alone each side of the top strap of the frame. I noted the loaded casings found in the box of ammunition in the field notes. It was then bagged and sent to the lab.

The different types of specialists there are different types of specialists in forensic science like a ballistics specialists that specializes in firearms and things like that. Other types of specialists are like forensic anthropology that deals with bones and skulls. There is basically a different type of forensic scientists for every type of crime that there is. Ballistic specialists deal with firearms and they deal with collecting and analyzing firearms and ammunition. Some different types of things they’d deal with that have to deal with firearms and ammunition are like studying marks left on ammunition. Ballistic specialists have to have education is firearms and ammunition. Ballistic experts need at least a bachelor’s in forensic science. Some of the core requirements are

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.

You would know what type of gun that was used in the crime that was committed. You would be able to get the history of the gun owners, if it has been registered to a person. You can get a finger print off of a gun to see who has handled it. If the gun is registered, then you can find out who owns the gun. This would help lead them to know who to arrest or who may have been a partner in a crime. You can do tests that will match the firearm. Depending on how the weapon is used, you might be able to get DNA evidence of the victim of the gun. You would also be able to find out how many bullets may have been used in the crime depending how many bullets that are missing from the clip or from the inside of the

Collect all of the Trace evidence, hair, tissue, fingerprints, blood and DNA just to name a few. You will also have to collect physical evidence. Firearms should be stored in paper based packaging. If the firearm was found in the water it must be packaged with that same water it was found in. Bullets never get marked or defaced, never touch with your bare hands. To avoid corrosion never package them in plastic always paper

Most of the crimes that are committed in our society involve a handgun. Gunshot wounds can be very challenging on determining whether or not it was a suicide attempt or homicide. There are some indicators that assist investigators reach a conclusion on gunshot wounds. One of the indicators is the location of the gunshot wound such as the entry and exit points. For example, as the bullet passes through the skin inward and can often travel through the body on a straight path. Furthermore, the damage to the tissue around a gunshot wound helps the investigators with the determining the distance the weapon was fired from (Swanson, Chamelin, Territo, & Taylor, 2012).

Evidence in fire-arm related cases can be something as simple as a bullet casing. Sometimes the actual firearm can be found at the crime scene which may include prints. By examining this

Today there is a lot of controversy regarding firearms and who should carry them. However, when you look at how crimes are shoveled, law enforcement has improved technology and methods to how the crime is solved.

Collecting gunshot residue (GSR) is very vital and major piece of evidence in a case. It impacts the case dramatically. For example the case I choose the shooter was convicted because of the GSR test that was conducted. The gunshot residue was on a glove found on the suspect as well as gunshot residue on Males t-shirt and pant leg of suspect. Without this evidence four child and her family would have never got justice for their mother Ansari death that they deserve. Males was sentenced to 53yrs. To life. I hope he is in prison for life for killing an innocent person. This assignment shows the importance of gunshot residue testing on a

The type of evidence that forensic ballistic evidence will usually be tied with firearms in some way and can be something as small as a bullet fragment or as large as hundreds of cartridges. Bullet