Question

Describe ballistic fingerprinting and its limitations.

Answer 1

Ballistic fingerprinting is a forensic tool to identify the weapon or gun used in the crime. This is done on the basis of the unique prints or patterns that are left on the cases of shells of the bullets during the firing. It is assumed that each gun leaves a unique pattern on the shells of the bullets in the process of shooting, and these imprints or patterns are used by the investigation officers to track the gun and to reach the offender. This forensic tools have many limitations as:

• As the offender may use a fake id to purchase a gun, the ballistic fingerprinting is not helpful in such situations, as it could only identify the gun and not the offender.
• Sometimes the guns used are borrowed or stolen, in such situations the ballistic fingerprinting leads to wrong persons.
• Ballistic fingerprints are not permanent as DNA and human fingerprints. They can be altered deliberately or can occur with normal use. This questions the reliability of ballistic fingerprinting.
• Sometimes the computers could mismatch the casings with their accurate guns leading to faulty results and investigations.