really off topic

Rod WMG · 02-18-2008, 12:14 PM

My wife likes to subscribe to Alfred Hitchcock/Ellery Queen magazines. I've read some funky stuff about guns in them, but this latest is something I've never before seen.

In one of the stories I read recently a couple of detectives were putting on a public program for writers and they pooh-poohed the idea of using a pencil down the barrel to pick up a pistol, preserving the fingerprints. Seems they thought it would mar the barrel and make testing bullets for matches impossible.

Guess all the muzzleloader shooters better discard their wooden ramrods before they damage the bores.

John Sabato · 02-18-2008, 12:51 PM

It is like the actors on CSI who wear rubber gloves to pick up evidence, including firearms, but still handle those parts of the gun where fingerprints might exist, as if gloves wouldn't smear them

Rod WMG · 02-18-2008, 01:44 PM

Some things just do defy logic, don't they, John?

mjgru2001 · 02-18-2008, 06:23 PM

You would never stick anything down the barrel ... as any good defense attorney would shred you to pieces on cross for altering the ballistic/physical evidence. You must recall, even a less than close range shot might result in the targets blood/hair/skin being blown back at the firearm and ending up .... in the barrel ... among other places. And never a pencil. Pencils have nasty things like paint coatings and graphite that can transfer to the evidence. Cops rarely use pencils anyway.

Pen through the trigger guard. CAREFULLY ... as to not touch the trigger!

No trigger guard you say? Adapt and overcome. =)

Steinar · 02-19-2008, 06:01 AM

worth a click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMt9XuUG2k8

azlaw · 02-20-2008, 09:21 PM

Right or wrong, many members of the public see these CSI programs and report for jury duty expecting real police to have these resources, which they usually don't. It has now become such a problem that prosecutors must now address the "CSI effect" in their arguments to juries - "Honest folks, it's just make-believe"!

H

02-18-2008, 12:14 PM	#1
Rod WMG User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Edge of Texas Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	really off topic My wife likes to subscribe to Alfred Hitchcock/Ellery Queen magazines. I've read some funky stuff about guns in them, but this latest is something I've never before seen. In one of the stories I read recently a couple of detectives were putting on a public program for writers and they pooh-poohed the idea of using a pencil down the barrel to pick up a pistol, preserving the fingerprints. Seems they thought it would mar the barrel and make testing bullets for matches impossible. Guess all the muzzleloader shooters better discard their wooden ramrods before they damage the bores.

02-18-2008, 12:51 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	It is like the actors on CSI who wear rubber gloves to pick up evidence, including firearms, but still handle those parts of the gun where fingerprints might exist, as if gloves wouldn't smear them __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

02-18-2008, 06:23 PM	#4
mjgru2001 User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 9 Thanks: 11 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	You would never stick anything down the barrel ... as any good defense attorney would shred you to pieces on cross for altering the ballistic/physical evidence. You must recall, even a less than close range shot might result in the targets blood/hair/skin being blown back at the firearm and ending up .... in the barrel ... among other places. And never a pencil. Pencils have nasty things like paint coatings and graphite that can transfer to the evidence. Cops rarely use pencils anyway. Pen through the trigger guard. CAREFULLY ... as to not touch the trigger! No trigger guard you say? Adapt and overcome. =) __________________ "When they took the fourth amendment, I was silent because I don't deal drugs. When they took the sixth amendment, I kept quiet because I know I'm innocent. When they took the second amendment, I said nothing because I don't own a gun. Now they've come for the first amendment, and I can't say anything at all." -Tim Freeman

02-19-2008, 06:01 AM	#5
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	worth a click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMt9XuUG2k8 __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

02-18-2008, 01:44 PM	#3
Rod WMG User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Edge of Texas Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Some things just do defy logic, don't they, John?

02-20-2008, 09:21 PM	#6
azlaw User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 207 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Right or wrong, many members of the public see these CSI programs and report for jury duty expecting real police to have these resources, which they usually don't. It has now become such a problem that prosecutors must now address the "CSI effect" in their arguments to juries - "Honest folks, it's just make-believe"! H