Mircostamping is a technology that imprints identifying information on bullet cartridges. Lasers are used to engrave identifying markers on the internal mechanisms of the gun, such as the breech face and the firing pin. As the gun is fired, information identifying the make, model and serial number of the gun is stamped onto the cartridge. Having such precise information is a huge boost to law enforcement’s ability to trace guns used in crimes. Instead of relying on the old methods of matching unintentional cartridge markings left by guns, Microstamping immediately identifies the particular gun in much the same way a VIN number identifies a particular car.

WAVE favors legislation that would require newly developed models of semiautomatic pistols to have microstamping technology.