Forensic Evidence and Criminal Investigations: The Impact of Ballistics Information on the Investigation of Violent Crime in Nine Cities,

We explore the impact of information from ballistics imaging hit reports on the investigation into violent crimes. Ballistics imaging hits link two crimes involving the same firearm by forensically matching tool marks on the fired bullets or cartridge cases. Interview data collected from detectives who received a hit report were used to explore the relationship between the presence of a hit report and outcomes in 65 gun‐related violent crime investigations in nine U.S. police agencies. Findings indicate hit reports rarely contribute to identification, arrest, charging, or sentencing of suspects, because of delays in producing hit reports. On average, hit reports were completed 181.4 days after the focal crime. This delay forces investigations to proceed without the benefit of information from ballistics analysis. Additionally, hit reports rarely contained detailed information that was immediately useful to investigators. Instead, hit reports required additional research by the investigator to unlock useful information.     

Homicide clearance in Sweden 1990–2013 with special reference to firearm-perpetrated homicides

Studies on homicide clearance in the Scandinavian context are very rare. In this article, we explore the homicide clearance rate in Sweden with special reference to firearm-perpetrated cases. The study is based on homicide research data collected by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, comprising all 2160 homicides known to the Swedish authorities during the period 1990–2013. The annual clearance rate varied between 74 and 90%, with an overall minor decrease since the 1990s. However, there has been a considerable decrease in the clearance rate for firearm-perpetrated homicides. It can be concluded that this decrease is due to a shift in the characteristics of firearm-perpetrated offences, with homicides committed in public places against criminally active male victims having become more frequent. This finding is generally consistent with theories which argue that homicide clearance rates are predominantly affected by case-specific, non-discretional factors beyond the control of the police. The practical implications of the study are that investigative efforts should be more intense in cases where a male has been shot in a public place, and that homicides related to criminal milieus should be investigated by specialized units.     

The Gun Control Debate: Why Experience and Culture Matters

The article revisits the gun control debate policy comparing the varied and diverse perspectives and viewpoints held by both the culturalist and empiricist, pro-gun society and gun less society on how the gun debate may be properly resolved through a pragmatic approach of policy-making- putting emphasis on culture, experience and observation with regards to gun control. In the process of employing an idea-based coalition approach and argumentative discourse analysis towards the brewing gun control debate, the article consequently realizes the convergent role of both cultural worldviews and public opinion plays at the very heart of deliberation on gun debate.     

Guns,Southernness, and gun control

Southerners have been found to have higher levels of gun ownership than persons who reside elsewhere. This may be due to cultural factors peculiar to the Southern region. If so, this would have interesting implications for gun control initiatives. Although the differential in gun ownership has been linked to varying support or opposition to gun control, the relationship between this variable and specific types of gun control has not been examined. With this in mind, we investigate how specific types of gun ownership interact with Southernness, controlling for the effects of other variables, to determine preferences for three different types of gun control. We use 1975 data collected by DMI on a stratified random sample of 1538 noninstitutionalized adults in the United States. An analysis of several logistic regression equations indicates that a cultural component, related to Southernness, affects attitudes toward gun control. Southerners, in general, were the most opposed to permits and handgun bans. Southern shotgun owners, in particular, were found to be the most opposed to gun registration. These findings point to the need to consider region, culture, and gun type when addressing the issue of gun control.We would be happy to supply the interested reader with an electronic copy of the data set.     

丢失枪支不报罪构成问题辨析

丢失枪支不报告罪的设立促进了我国枪支管理制度的改进与完善,对于维护我国枪支管理秩序具有重要意义。丢失枪支行为包括枪支被盗、被抢以及被骗等失去了法定枪支的情形。＂不及时报告＂与＂严重后果＂之间具有刑法因果关系。民兵可以成为丢失枪支不报告罪的主体,单位应该纳入丢失枪支不报告罪的主体范围。本罪属于故意犯罪。     

论警察使用枪支的观念转换与法律规制

近年来,随着社会治安形势的日益复杂和严峻,我国刑事犯罪的暴力化倾向也越来越突出,人民警察在执法活动中使用枪支的情况也越来越普遍,每次警察开枪的案件都会被媒体作为一个"看点"进行报道,从而引起社会公众的广泛关注.为此,一方面警察必须转变使用枪支理念,确立"以人为本,尊重生命,节制权力,维护法治"的理念;另一方面,必须修改相关法律法规,完善司法审查与救济制度.     

心肺功能与警察据枪动作稳定性的相关性分析

在影响警察开枪射击的诸多因素中,射手据枪动作的稳定性是关键,根据多年的教学实践和观察,我们发现射手心肺功能的优劣与警用手枪据枪的稳定性具有相关性。通过实验测试,并对实验数据利用SPSS统计软件进行分析,证实心肺功能强的人其据枪稳定性更好。试验结果为搞好警务实战技能训练提供了依据。     

79式微型冲锋枪子弹射击顺序的研究

目的研究79式微型冲锋枪发射子弹的排序。方法对已知顺序实弹射击取样,扩大观察弹头、弹壳上发射过程中形成的痕迹,通过统计、归纳,从中发现与排序有关的痕迹特征。结果壳体肩部圆点痕,弹底边缘压擦痕、拉壳钩痕与发射顺序有关。结论壳体肩部圆点痕、弹底边缘压擦痕等痕迹的有无、位置及轻重程度,对判断79式微型冲锋枪弹壳发射顺序有较可靠的参考价值。     

根据创口射击残留物推断“5.4”式手枪射击距离的研究

目的利用环境控制扫描电镜/能谱仪（SEM/EDX）研究枪弹创射入口周围射击残留物与射击距离的关系,探讨其能否用于射击距离的判断。方法采用＂＂5.4＂＂式手枪分别在5、10、15、20、30、40、50、60、70、80、90、120cm处射击乳猪皮肤,利用SEM/EDX观察创口周围GSR的分布和成分,并建立回归方程。结果射击距离和GSR颗粒数量之间总体表现为直线关系,并建立了相应的回归方程。当射击距离为10~90cm时,用该方程推断射击距离效果较好。结论检测创口周围GSR可望用于判断“5.4”式手枪的射击距离。     

鹅细小病毒VP3基因疫苗两种不同免疫方式对细胞免疫的影响

将构建的鹅细小病毒(GPV)VP3基因疫苗(pcDNA-GPV-VP3)转染鹅胚成纤维细胞(GEF),每隔12 h检测VP3蛋白的表达情况,同时以不同剂量分别通过基因枪轰击和肌肉注射免疫28日龄健康雏鹅,于免疫后第3、7、14、21、28、35、49、63、77和105 d采血,进行淋巴细胞增殖试验(MTT法)。结果,转染后第24 h即可在GEF中检测到GPV VP3蛋白,第60 h表达量达到高峰。试验组鹅外周血T淋巴细胞D490 nm值在免疫后第35 d达到最大。肌肉注射组和基因枪组免疫后第14~63 d、第7~63 d的D490 nm值分别与PBS对照组差异极显著;肌肉注射组及基因枪组免疫后第21~49 d的D490 nm值显著高于弱毒疫苗对照组;肌肉注射组及基因枪组免疫后第14~63 d的D490 nm值极显著高于空质粒对照组。表明,基因枪轰击和肌肉注射pcDNA-GPV-VP3均能诱导雏鹅产生良好的细胞免疫应答。