Forensic Ballistics
Forensic ballistics is concerned with analysing bullets and firearms that have been used in crimes.
Rifling
Identification of a bullet became possible with the advent of rifling as far back as the 1400s. Rifling is a process of applying grooves to a gun barrel which cause the bullets fired to have grooves, indentations and scratches on them. These marks on the bullets are unique to the weapon that fired them. The first recorded case of firearm identification being used to identify the shooter was back in 1835 in England. Oliver Wendell Holmes
In 1902 Oliver Wendell Holmes became the first person to produce ballistics information in a court of law. Having done some reading on firearm identification he used a gunsmith to fire the suspected firearm into cotton wool. This test bullet was then compared to the one recovered from the victim. Under microscope it was proven that both had been fired by the same gun.
Calvin Goddard
Calvin Goddard compiled a database of all the guns available from twelve different manufacturers, including test firing data. He later invented the comparison microscope that allowed two bullets to be viewed side by side for ease of examination.
In 1925 Goddard wrote a piece for the “Army Ordnance” in which he described in detail the use of his comparison microscope for firearm investigations. He titled this article “Forensic Ballistics”, a term which has been retained ever since.
http://forensicsfaq.com/forensic-ballistics.html
Identification of a bullet became possible with the advent of rifling as far back as the 1400s. Rifling is a process of applying grooves to a gun barrel which cause the bullets fired to have grooves, indentations and scratches on them. These marks on the bullets are unique to the weapon that fired them. The first recorded case of firearm identification being used to identify the shooter was back in 1835 in England. Oliver Wendell Holmes
In 1902 Oliver Wendell Holmes became the first person to produce ballistics information in a court of law. Having done some reading on firearm identification he used a gunsmith to fire the suspected firearm into cotton wool. This test bullet was then compared to the one recovered from the victim. Under microscope it was proven that both had been fired by the same gun.
Calvin Goddard
Calvin Goddard compiled a database of all the guns available from twelve different manufacturers, including test firing data. He later invented the comparison microscope that allowed two bullets to be viewed side by side for ease of examination.
In 1925 Goddard wrote a piece for the “Army Ordnance” in which he described in detail the use of his comparison microscope for firearm investigations. He titled this article “Forensic Ballistics”, a term which has been retained ever since.
http://forensicsfaq.com/forensic-ballistics.html
I watch shows like CSI (Vegas, Miami, New York), NCIS, and shows of that nature and the things they do are so incredible that I forget sometimes, most of what they do is based off actual machines and computers and technology used into today's CSI's. Forensic Ballistics has come so far by the miracle of science. Things have progressed so much that with a click of a button and a firing of a gun a machine can analyze and decipher if the bullets are the same. Society wants fast answers and you get it through this.
ReplyDeleteA different form of art is: a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation. CSI work, forensic ballistics in particular, is an art. It's learned through repetition and constant study and focusing.
-Brittney
This was a huge break through in criminal investigation. To be able to use this as a way to help prove someone was the shooter, or if a certain gun was used. Now in our time this is a common method when fire arms are involved. From what I have learned rifling is just like a finger print from a person. They all are unique and there are none which are the same.
ReplyDeleteThe field of Forensic Ballistics is a prime example of how science has contributed to society. The ability to definitively identify the firearm used to commit a crime has helped capture and prosecute criminals while exonerating those wrongly accused. Artists tools like modern digital photography and computer software programs have shortened the time required to match a bullet to it's weapon.
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