After years of research, Dr. David Klatzow’s monumental work regarding ballistic fingerprinting is finally published. Titled Defective Science, it is a must-read for any citizen concerned with justice and law enforcement. In it Dr. Klatzow thoroughly debunks the pseudoscience of ballistic fingerprinting.
Seeing as ballistic fingerprinting of all licenced firearms were an integral part of the previously proposed FCA amendments, this is a very important development. It essentially destroys the credibility of such practice in its entirety. There have been persistent rumours that ballistic fingerprinting may very well be in the new amendments, which are yet to see the light of day. If this is true, then Dr. Klatzow’s book comes at an incredibly opportune (and fortunate) moment.
His conclusions are as follows:
- Firearms do not always leave unique markings on the ammunition which is fired through them. Therefore, ballistic fingerprinting is unreliable as a forensic tool.
- The practice of comparative ballistic science is highly subjective and provides ample opportunity for bias.
- The ballistic fingerprint of a firearm can be changed using simple procedures and common materials.
- The ballistic fingerprint of a firearm can anyway change over its lifetime.
- An effective national ballistic imaging database is not feasible, as the variables of ballistic fingerprinting are too great.
- The possibility of false matches multiply with the size of the ballistic imaging database. This raises the spectre of miscarriage of justice, particularly among the poorest of the poor.
- The cost/benefit ratio of a national ballistic imaging database is exceptionally high. Too much money would be spent for too little benefit.
It is in your best interest to understand exactly how Dr. Klatzow came to these conclusions. Therefore, I have attached the entire book in PDF format right here: Defective Science – Dr David Klatzow
Please give it a read, and share it with your friends, family, colleagues, and whomever else you want to. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Policing has already received their copies. One Member of Parliament commented as follows: “This will most certainly cause a commotion.” I believe that the authorities will be unable to ignore Dr. Klatzow’s research, and that his work has possibly saved us all from a great calamity.
Dr. Klatzow, you have our gratitude.
Written by Gideon Joubert
Stewart - South Africa
•5 years ago
Great article Paratus – and an important investigation by Klatzow. Now how to make the idiot government listen?
Peter Moss
•5 years ago
Government knows exactly what it is doing and is never going to listen to the voice of reason. Tried, failed, toss it, not to be repeated.
Johan Jansen
•5 years ago
Great article and totally agree with it
Zoo Keeper
•5 years ago
A truly welcome development. Its about time people stopped making laws based on Hollywood fiction.
Peter Moss
•5 years ago
The only way to stop that is to OBJECT in sufficient numbers. Wishing, hoping, praying and thinking somebody else will do it will never do a thing. This our fight, our lives and our safety. If we place no value on tnat them we do nothing.
Kevin - SA
•5 years ago
Now the other question – why do the SAPS confiscate a legally licensed firearm for ballistic testing after defensive use thereof?
Cliff Patterson
•5 years ago
We need to lobby the NCOP. (National Council of Provinces) the MP’S that make up that body are the ones responsible for making the recommendations that eventually arrive at the votes of Parliament. If NCOP is not supportive of a Bill then they debate it’s credentials, legality and acceptability. Let’s petition and lobby the NCOP on this issue.