Ballistics Fingerprinting: A Lifesaver
The Beltway sniper case shows that matching a bullet to a gun helps police track a killer. A national ballistics database should come next
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By Lorraine Woellert
Now that police have arrested two men in connection with the Beltway sniper case, the encouraging news doesn't stop there. In investigating this horrible shooting spree, police made good use of an important tool: The tell-tale scratches left on a bullet as it's fired from a gun barrel. These marks can help trace weapons used in crimes, providing crucial clues for law enforcement. This is known as ballistics fingerprinting. It works, and it should now be adopted on a national scale.