Firearms the Law and Forensic Ballistics

<P>While gun design has undergone only minimal change over the centuries, investigative tools surrounding firearm use have grown significantly in sophistication. Now in its third edition, <STRONG>Firearms, the Law, and Forensic Ballistics</STRONG> has been updated to reflect recently published research and new technology developed since the last volume. Beginning with a discussion of the development of arms and ammunition from the fourteenth century to the present day, this book examines:</P><br/><br/><P></P><br/><br/><UL><br/><br/><P><br/><br/><LI>Firearms laws around the world, including legal challenges raised in the U.S. by the <EM>Daubert</EM> decision</LI><br/><br/><LI>Firearms manufacturing processes, the mechanisms of various firearms, and the linking of a particular bullet or spent cartridge with a suspected weapon</LI><br/><br/><LI>The origins and development of new science in firearms, including controversies, pioneers, and an exposé of the "quack" purveyors of pseudo-science</LI><br/><br/><LI>Internal, external, and terminal (wound) ballistics</LI><br/><br/><LI>The nature, composition, and analytical detection of discharge residue left on a suspect</LI><br/><br/><LI>The role of the ballistics expert at all stages of a case, ranging from the scene of the shooting incident, the post mortem examinations, the examination and testing of exhibits at the laboratory, and the presentation of evidence in court</LI><br/><br/><LI>Recently introduced computer search techniques applied to captured and digitally stored images of marks left on fired bullets and spent cartridge cases</LI><br/><br/><LI>Manual microscopic comparison work and computer-based searches on digital images of bullet and cartridge case marks to determine if a particular weapon has been fired in previous cases</LI><br/><br/><P></P></UL><br/><br/><P></P><br/><br/><P>Written by an expert with more than 50 years of experience using and handling firearms, this text is enhanced with nearly 250 illustrations, making it a premier guide to the fundamentals of firearms and related evidentiary considerations.</P>