LaMalfa introduces anti-microstamping firearms resolution
Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa introduced a resolution condemning recent mandates imposed on manufacturers requiring the inclusion of unproven and unreliable microstamping technology in firearms.
California has implemented a law requiring firearms manufacturers to micro laser-engrave a gun’s firing pin so that identifying information is imprinted on the cartridge when fired. This mandate is being considered by a number of other states and the city of Washington, D.C. This unworkable, costly, time-consuming mandate threatens the employment of thousands in the firearms industry and would raise the cost of legal firearms by hundreds of dollars per gun for both law-abiding citizens seeking to exercise their Second Amendment right. Microstamping continues to be “sole source” technology that can potentially make firearms less reliable. LaMalfa was joined in introduction by Congressmen Doug Lamborn and Jeff Van Drew.
Yesterday, a federal judge issued an injunction against the microstamping requirement and other aspects of California’s “Unsafe Handguns Act.” The judge declared that the challenged provisions of the UHA are “not consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”
This resolution is endorsed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
“California is once again ignoring the facts to push their anti-Second amendment agenda,” LaMalfa said. “Any criminal can easily bypass this expensive addition. Most criminals steal firearms and cannot legally buy them because of past convictions. Yet again, it’s the responsible, law-abiding firearm owners who will be hurt by these mandates.”
“The recent mandates requiring nonexistent microstamping technology in firearms directly targets millions of law-abiding American citizens and is unconstitutional following the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen decision,” said Lamborn. “Stemming from California’s misguided gun-control laws, the requirement for new guns to have microstamping technology has effectively banned citizens from acquiring safe and modern firearms. As one of our nation’s most fundamental and vital protections, I will never waver when it comes to defending Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”
“Microstamping is a technologically unfeasible requirement that has been mandated by California and considered by other states and the District of Columbia as a means of depriving law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights,” said Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association. “The patent holder of this technology agreed that it doesn’t work. The only purpose of microstamping requirements is to burden the firearm industry with insurmountable hurdles that would significantly raise the cost of firearms for customers and limit constitutional liberties for Americans. NSSF is tremendously grateful for Representative LaMalfa’s leadership to recognize and rebuke these impossible technical requirements that do nothing to improve public safety.”