June 15, 2010

ALBANY, N.Y. (WKTV) - "Radio listeners across the state are hearing a commercial in which Utica Police Chief Mark Williams explains why so many leaders favor a microstamping law."

Those were the words of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who joined by Utica Mayor David Roefaro and other statewide officials, were on the steps of the capital in Albany Tuesday to stress the importance of microstamping on semi-automatic handguns.

Roefaro, Bloomberg, and other officials say that markings on the bullet casings would help investigators trace where weapons used in crimes were sold, as well as to whom.

Bloomberg says asking for a new law has nothing to do with the second amendment. He says it has everything to do with keeping New Yorkers safe.

"In the past ten years, more than five thousand people across our state, including 18 police officers, have been gunned down by criminals," Bloomberg said. "In many instances...finding and convicting those criminals would be assisted enormously by microstamping."

The President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association speculates that the legislation would drive up the cost and lead manufacturers to stop selling to New York State.

The Senate plans to vote on the measure Tuesday.

The Assembly has approved a similar bill, which would take effect in 2012.