After decades of attempting to bring the actual applicable engineering science to the field of Forensic Firearm Examination and Identification through my own forensic practices, and through Daubert Challenges, Motions In Limine', etc. we finally had a federal judge at the Federal District Court in Roanoke, Virginia take some formal notice of the limitations of the outdated practices and procedures that are still being utilized by low level technicians that are the primary practitioners in this forensic discipline.
While this ruling is a step in the right direction, there are simply too many members of the judiciary that know absolutely nothing about the design and function of firearms, ammunition, internal/external/terminal ballistics, machining science, etc., etc.. The same issues apply to the low level technicians that are still permitted to practice in this field, in spite of the fact that the applicable modern engineering sciences of topography, surface metrology, tribology, machining science, ballistics, impact dynamics, etc., have been well-defined, and practiced for decades by qualified engineers.
There have been a number of documented firearm misidentifications over the years due to the continuing use of outdated late 19th and early 20th Century practices by low level technicians in this forensic discipline. This forensic discipline will never be elevated to a true science unless and until qualified engineers enter into and take over the day to day activities of what will be in the future: professional Forensic Firearm Engineers.
All major firearm and ammunition companies hire engineers to design and oversee the manufacture of firearms and ammunition. Furthermore, all commercial and industrial companies that are involved in the machining and quantification of machined parts and products also hire engineers to be involved in the design of machined products, and the quantification of machined surfaces. The aforementioned companies don't hire low level technicians to provide engineering services to such companies. They hire qualified engineers, as it is the only scientifically and legally responsible way that any professional high tech company can operate without undue liability.
I encourage my fellow engineers to enter into the field of Forensic Firearm Examination and Identification, and work with me to elevate this forensic discipline to that of a well-defined science.
David J. LaMagna – B.Sc., M.Sc.
Plastics Engineer - Materials Scientist/Engineer
Licensed Private Investigator
Mr, LaMagna's CV Summary can be reviewed here.
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