House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin has formally requested a technical assessment from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) regarding firearm microstamping technology. In a letter addressed to Acting Director Craig Burkhardt, Babin described microstamping as "a proposed method of firearm identification that relies on imprinting microscopic alphanumeric or bar and gear codes onto the primer of cartridge casings via a firearm’s firing pin." He noted that while microstamping is considered as a potential forensic tool, there are "serious concerns... regarding its technical reliability, reproducibility, cost, and practical implementation."
The letter asks NIST to examine several issues related to the durability and reliability of microstamping. Among the questions posed are: "To what extent does microstamping persist through repeated firing and routine firearm maintenance?" Babin also seeks information on whether codes are "consistently legible and recoverable across different firearm models and calibers," as well as if "firing pins vibrating when they strike the primers of cartridge cases… affect the ability of the firing pins to transfer a legible code."
Babin has requested written responses from NIST by May 29, 2026. He emphasized that this request reflects the Committee’s dedication to ensuring any technology considered at the federal level is based on scientific evidence and practical application.
The full text of Chairman Babin's letter can be accessed online. Additional coverage is available in an exclusive article by The Daily Caller.
