SATURDAY OCTOBER 13, 2007 (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – AB 1471, authored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger today. The legislation, entitled the Crime Gun Identification Act, requires that beginning in 2010, each new model of semiautomatic handgun be microstamped with its make, model and identification number. Law enforcement will use this information to identify guns used in crimes.

"Today the Governor stands with public safety experts who believe this technology can make a major impact on gun violence," said Feuer, noting that scores of law enforcement leaders throughout California, including the California Police Chiefs Association, had endorsed the bill. "Microstamping has the potential to revolutionize the investigation of shooting incidents involving handguns.  This new law will put California at the forefront of forensic technology and could signal a catalytic change across the nation,”  Feuer added.  “Homicide bureaus throughout our state have hundreds of unsolved cases where the only evidence left at the scene of the crime was expended bullet casings.  If these casings had imprinted information on them identifying the gun from which they were fired, our investigators would have much better chance of solving heinous crimes.  Microstamping will not only lead to more killers being behind bars, but also slow down the sale of illegal guns.  Straw purchasers will be more hesitant to sell guns to criminals if they know these guns will be traced back to them.”

Assemblyman Mike Feuer represents the 42nd Assembly District, which includes much of Los Angeles, as well as Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.