Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D-Central Islip) announced that the Assembly has passed a bill designed to help law enforcement trace spent bullet cartridges to the guns that fired them, providing law enforcement with an extra tool to help track down violent criminals (A.1157-A). This legislation, dubbed the Crime Gun Identification Act of 2011, requires semiautomatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in New York State after Jan. 1, 2013, to be outfitted with microstamping technology.

“Microstamping quickly identifies the origin of the bullet, improving the chances of a successful investigation, arrest, and prosecution of a crime,” Ramos said. “This common-sense measure helps further our quest to end gun violence and ensure that our families feel safe in our communities.”

Assemblyman Ramos explained that the technology uses internal, laser-etching mechanisms to mark cartridges with the make, model, and serial number when a weapon is discharged. This “microstamp” would be imprinted twice on each cartridge, leaving no questions in ballistics identification.

The measure, previously passed by the Assembly in 2009 and 2010 – and part of Governor Cuomo’s ‘Urban Agenda’ – would establish fines for manufacturers and dealers who are non-compliant with the legislation after Jan. 1, 2013.

This legislation is just the latest example of Ramos's long-term commitment to improving the quality of life for families in our community. This month, Ramos marked the 2-year anniversary of his graffiti removal campaign, and continues his fight for legislation that would:

• establish a gang assessment, intervention, prevention and suppression program to develop a coordinated response to gang-related crimes (A.3834); and
• create harsher penalties and punishments for gang-related crimes (A.3835)