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Firearm

Name:

Institution:
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1.How is X-ray photography used by forensic firearms examiners?

Investigators use X-ray photography to examine fragments and collect information which

will assist them establish the exact person that used the firearm to commit the crime. X-ray

photography also enables the investigator to have the ability to scrutinize structural components

on the crime scene which cannot be conveniently carried and transported to a forensic lab.

Both government and private investigators use X-rays to collect forensic evidence for

example bullet remains that are stuck in various materials and hence, they use portable X-ray

machines which can be employed in order to examine available evidence on the crime scene

location with very minimal exfoliation or disturbance.

The most definite proof that can be used by the forensic firearm examiners to link the

criminal to a firearm is by use of fingerprints. Investigators use the x-rays to lift up the

fingerprints from the firearm. Through this they are able to determine the person that was

holding or using the firearm at one particular time. This is because fingerprints are normally

unique for each and every person. Therefore, when the investigators compare them to the

existing fingerprint database, they are able to find the exact person that is linked to a particular

crime scene (Bernstein, 2008).

Last but not least, the investigators, forensic firearm examiners and the medical doctors

can liaise to determine the kind of firearm used in the case that the victim is injured. The medical

doctors carry out the X-ray to determine the firearm fragments that are stuck in the victim’s body

in the case the firearm used is missing. The x-ray scan can be used to reveal the nature of these

fragments and link them to the used firearm.

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2. What is stellate tearing? What does its presence tell investigators?

Stellate tearing is the tearing of the skin as a result of a gunshot. In this case, the

expansion of gases in a rapid manner and the attempt to exit from the same gunshot hole where

they entered. This large volume of gases are only able to exit the gunshot hole through bursting

out through the body tissue around the entry hole of the bullet.

The presence of the stellate tearing of the skin is very useful to the investigators. They

can use it to determine the kind of bullet that was used. By identifying the kind of bullets used,

they are able to determine the kind and caliber of the gun that was used to fire the bullet.

In addition, the investigators can be able to determine the direction, distance and angle

from which the bullet was fired. Through this, they could be able to determine the person behind

the crime. The direction from which the bullets came from can be used to place the criminal in

the scene of crime when surveillance camera footage is examined from the crime scene.

The presence of stellate tearing can be used by investigators to determine the range at

which the gunshot was fired. Researchers have concluded that stellate tearing is prevalent and

common in the gunshots that were fired at close range. This is very important factor for the

investigators since they are able to determine the probable the caliber of firearm that was used.

They can use this information to track and trace the usage of the firearm and the owner of the

firearm thereby bringing him or her to book for any inappropriate use of the weapon with valid

and verified evidence that is generally acceptable in the court (Jackson, 2011).
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3. GSR retention is a concern for investigators. How can GSR be preserved on the skin?

Clothing?

Gunshot residue retention is very crucial for the investigators as it acts as a potential link

between the crime and the firearm used to commit the crime. Gunshot residue can be preserved

on the skin by ensuring that the suspect does not wash his/her hands. On the other hand, the

suspect should not be allowed to interact with other people as the gunshot residues can be

transferred to other people not involved in the crime thereby linking them to the same. In

addition, the law enforcers should avoid handcuffing the suspect’s hands at the back. This is

because the gunshot residue evidence can be wiped off by the suspect’s cloth and the police’s car

seats during transportation.

Preserving gunshot residue on the clothing can be done in several ways. To begin with,

the person involved should not be allowed to interact with other people to avoid transfer of the

residue to other people’s clothing. In this case the person should be locked in a room alone to

limit his/her movement. On the other hand, the investigators should confiscate the clothes worn

by the suspect and place them in a plastic bag to ensure that the gunshot residue remains on the

clothing for further investigation and use as evidence in the court of law (Dalby et. Al., 2010).
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4. Trace metal detection can be used to determine if the suspect handled a firearm; however other

objects will give a positive reaction as well. Discuss these concerns.

Trace metal detection method has a number of problems. It lacks the ability to specify the

exact metals that are prevalent. The color change is not limited to the presence of the material

that makes the gun but the color change can be as a result of the other metals that are in the scene

and also the one that came into contact with the weapon due to improper handling of the weapon.

Most researchers have termed the method to be more subjective and less objective. In some

cases, judges in several courts have dismissed evidence that is based on the trace method due to

the prevalence of inaccurate results.

The method is also inappropriate since it can detect other metals that came in touch with

the firearm about one or two days before. In essence therefore, it becomes hard for the

investigators to link the firearm to the current crime scene.

Due to the above reasons, concerns have time and again been raised over the

dependability of the method in determining the last person to handle the firearm by criminal

investigators. It is evident that the method can yield the wrong results and evidence and hence

cannot accurately place the firearm to the crime scene. Due to this, unless the method is used

alongside other reliable methods like x-rays, the authenticity and reliability of the evidence

collected might be compromised and hence inadmissible in court. As a result, the real culprit of

the crime can go scot-free or an innocent person can be charged for the crime he or she did not

commit (White, 2004).

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References

Bernstein, M. (2008). New Fingerprint Visualization Method Uses X-Rays To Reveal Missing

Clues. Pearson Publishers.

Jackson, A. R. W, Jackson, J. M. (2011). Forensic Science. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

O. Dalby, D. Butler, J.W. Birkett. (2010). Analysis of Gunshot Residue and Associated

Materials. A Review, J. Forens. Sci.

White, P. C. (2004). Crime Scene to Court: The Essentials of Forensic Science. Cambridge: The

Royal Society of Chemistry.