Do all new firearms include a spent casing?

[ProtectThisHouseVA]

I'm trying to keep track of my manuals, paperwork, receipts, etc.

On one of my new-purchase pistols - I'm realizing I don't have a spent casing. Is this a problem? Are all new firearms supposed to include a spent casing?

Any more specifics surrounding the spent casing thing would be great.

Thanks in advance.

[BertMacklin]

No, at least not in Va. Certain states do/have previously required such things for databases such that certain manufacturers just include them in bulk shipments, like a finger print. If this is keeping you up at night then just shoot it once, collect the case and bag it.

[wittmeba]

I just searched/read a couple articles and they claim everything from being able to trace a gun to the current registered user to just an empty to prove to the buyer it shoots.

I only believe the last part. When I bought my S&W M&P .40 it had 1 empty in a small envelope. There was nothing written to tell me it must be kept with the gun or even be saved. I still have it but if it is for Law Enforcement to gain knowledge about my gun fingerprint they better come get it before it gets lost.

I find it humorous that anyone would think they would give evidence to someone whom might have committed a crime.

The last I read was it is used as a test round and provided to show the gun works.

[Reverenddel]

It's both a "test round",and a "register casing" depending on your state.

I simply just toss .22LR's, and and add the case to my "empties". The Commonwealth hasn't been infected with that Carpetbagger Tracking-Every-Move ideology yet.

[VAbyChoice]

Back in NJ you would never get a spent casing with your firearm. The state police have that in a locker somewhere. I wonder how many times that has actually matched a casing from a crime? I can't imagine even with how sophisticated technology is that they can really select a firearm out of the hundreds of millions out there by a firing pin indentation.

The only thing I can see would be if they already had their hands on a gun suspected to be used in a crime, and a shell casing from that crime, and then matched the gun to the casing. But they could do that just by firing another round in the gun... Doubt the state database ever actually comes into play. I would be interested to see a single case where a spent casing was matched to a database casing and led to a conviction, without any other evidence at play.



Thank goodness for VA! Sic Semper Tyrannis!

[MarcSpaz]

The number one reason empties are collected at a crime scene is to get finger prints and DNA that may be on the casings.

I am not personally aware of any cases that used leade/throat marks, strike and ejector marks to forensically match a cartridge to a gun. Its not totally impossible, but extremely unlikely. Those characteristics can be too easily altered either intentionally or via wear and tear or even defective/worn parts replacement. That is likely why so few states have the requirement.