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

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Of course, the costs in Table 6 do not cover the expense of training
personnel, developing reading methods or implementing the infrastructure
required for the marking process. In order to limit costs, one good solution
would be to use previously trained personnel and to seek the help of
specialised industries. At this stage, it is a difficult and tricky task to come up
with a figure for the costs necessary for the different operations involved in
tracing, since certain parameters have not yet been chosen.
From the point of view of feasibility, the different methods that have
been proposed are perfectly compatible with the tracing process such as it
has been defined in this document. The choice now rests with political
actors, who must define the method to be applied on the basis of the
technical tools that have been proposed to them.
Let us also mention the problem of weapons currently on the market.
Because of the considerable number of weapons and the impossibility of
marking them all, it is imperative to concentrate first of all on those weapons
that must be traced. The techniques proposed are compatible with old
weapons as well as with those currently on the market.
Having broken down the process hierarchically has given us a better
perspective of the different solutions possible. From the point of view of a
PGT only, the technique of stamping does not allow all the parts of the
firearm to be marked. Laser marking therefore appears to be a pertinent
solution for our purposes. In the context of a PT, the use of electronic chips
and replicated marking addresses the problem of obliterated serial
numbers, as firearms can still be identified.
2.11 HOW COULD DIFFICULTIES BE BEST OVERCOME?
Throughout this document, we have listed a series of arguments
relating to marking and tracing firearms. We have highlighted a certain
number of problems that may be encountered during the elaboration of this
process. In order to avoid these difficulties inasmuch as possible, several
points should be discussed.
First of all, it is important to note that tracing operations are not feasible
in the short term. Quite some time may pass before the measures adopted
are applied. The tracing process is a long-term one. Moreover, we have