Following last week's announcement that the Connecticut General Assembly would hear a bill to require microstamping of the firing pins of semi-automatic pistols, firearms manufacturers -- many based in Connecticut -- this morning announced opposition to the measure. The manufacturers said in a release that microstamping -- engraving the weapon's serial number on the firing pin to mark each shell casing -- would cost a great deal to reconfigure the manufacturing process. One company, Colt Firearms, stated last year that they would consider leaving the state if microstamping became law, according to the release.
The manufacturers claim the microstamping technology is patented, unreliable and sole-sourced, although the legislation itself -- SB 353 -- states that the attorney general must certify "that the technology used to create the imprint is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions."
"This feel-good legislation will do more harm than good," said Carlton Chen of Colt Firearms. "Let us not make a mistake with the unintended consequences of driving businesses and jobs out of Connecticut."
