The Scope and Implications of a Tracing Mechanism for Small Arms ...

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• (Tracing) Details of all stolen vehicles are recorded on national and
regional databases, and with Interpol for worldwide circulation.
Whilst these measures do not necessarily deter car thieves, they
provide effective means of identifying stolen vehicles and ensuring their
ultimate return to their lawful owners. This is an important consideration for
firearm owners who similarly want the reassurance that if their guns are
stolen and recovered by police, they can be identified and returned.
With regard to ammunition, a recent innovation in crime prevention
and detection, called “SmartWater” 11 can be utilized with ammunition to
uniquely mark batches to assist with subsequent tracing. “SmartWater” is a
non-corrosive chemical solution, which is prepared in individual batches
that can be sprayed on to any product to assist in tracing its origin. Each
batch is made to a unique formula. The solution dries quickly to leave a
permanent coating, which is only detectable under ultraviolet light. The
chemical signature for each batch of “SmartWater” used can be crossreferenced
with the ammunition manufacturer’s records; e.g. the labelling
on external packaging and the head-stamp marks of individual rounds
within each box, to provide sufficient detail to track distribution.
Subsequent forensic examination and analysis of recovered ammunition
sprayed with “SmartWater” will identify the precise batch of solution used
from which to begin the tracing process. “SmartWater” could be very
effective as an import marker for countries wishing to identify imported
ammunition. External packaging could be removed to enable every round
to be sprayed before being re-packed and sent on.
An alternative to “SmartWater” is the “Mighty Dot”. 12 Created on a
chemically treated polyester substrate, each dot is around 1mm in diameter
and contains a laser etched code number, such as a vehicle's VIN or a
weapon’s unique identifier, or a national import code for batches of
imported ammunition. Dots can be supplied either “dry” or more usually
suspended in a custom made adhesive designed to fluoresce under ultra
violet light. Mighty Dots can be applied in a brush-on form or in a spray.
Once applied the sheer volume of dots makes identification straightforward
using a simple hand held microscope while removal is so complicated and
time consuming that it is impractical.