Even as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attempted a last ditch effort to drum-up support for firearms microstamping (S. 6005A / 6468C) in Albany, opposition to the legislation continued to gain steam, according to a release issued by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
“Compelling the use of this unreliable patented sole-sourced technology will result in a ban on firearms for law-abiding consumers in the Empire State” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “Many manufacturers will choose to abandon the New York market rather than incur substantial costs associated with complying with microstamping legislation, which would include purchasing (at monopolistic prices) very expensive equipment and patented technology and completely redesigning their manufacturing processes, plant and equipment. Everyday New Yorkers are beginning to realize the ramifications of this and have begun putting pressure on their state senators to oppose the legislation.
According to the NSSF, microstamping is a “patented, sole-sourced technology that independent studies, including those from the National Academy of Sciences and the University of California at Davis, proved to be flawed, easily defeated by criminals and something that should not be mandated without further in-depth study.” The NSSF said this view is shared by the firearms industry and law enforcement agencies such as the National Fraternal Order of Police. The NSSF is in fact supporting federal legislation to fund a comprehensive study of firearms microstamping.
In order to implement the microstamping technology, the NSSF said New York taxpayers would have to spend millions on high-tech scanning electron microscopes and patented bar code reading equipment.
Members of the firearms industry have contributed more than $1.6 billion in total economic activity to New York in 2009 and employ more than 8,500 people in the state. In written testimony submitted in opposition to S. 6005A / 6468C, the NSSF said industry officials made clear that many of these jobs would be at risk should microstamping pass into law a serious threat given the increased lobbying of pro-gun states such as Idaho and South Dakota, two of many states where legislators are looking for increased tax revenue and jobs for their constituents.
“This is an extraordinarily dangerous bill,” added Keane. “Legislators would be wise to heed the concerns of all New Yorkers and vote down S. 6005A / 6468C – a move that would benefit law-abiding citizens while keeping hundreds of jobs and millions in tax revenue in New York.”
