READER Q&A:

In order to buy a firearm legally in California you must first successfully complete a firearms safety course, go through an extensive background check, find a licensed firearm dealer and wait out what I believe is a two week waiting period for handguns. But anybody over the age of 18 can walk into just about any major sporting goods chains store a purchase ammunition on the spot. It seems to me that if firearms have serial numbers, then bullets and casings should have some identifying markings as well. Imagine if bullets and shell casings had some some identifying serial numbers laser etched into them. To be able to tie a bullet, to at lot number, to a piont of sale, to a bar code, to a drive’s license and maybe to a murder. Something etched on the inside of thr casing and the “tail” end of the bullet itself. True crimminals obtain firearms illegally as a matter of course, but dare I say very few of them load their own amunition. Bullets that could be trace back to the purchaser.

Well I would think after someone went through all that crap they should get free ammo. Besides if what you are suggesting were implemented ammo cost would go through the roof, as if it already hasn’t. Ammo used to be registered on a federal level, but they found it to be useless. Also, Maryland passed a law some time ago requiring a fired shell casing be provided to the state police for every new handgun sold. NO crimes have been solved, and the police want the law repealed.