Posted: March 11th, 2023

hw F

apa 7

no word minimum BUT answer questions thoroughly!!

no plagiarism

USE REFERENCES PROVIDED!!!

Both discussions due 2/25

1. Are gunshot residue and distance determination the same?  State what the differences are.  Explain the difference as if you were explaining it to a jury.

2. Name three different types of tests that are used for distance determination and state what those tests react with.

3. What does an examiner need to have in order to perform a distance determination examination?  Explain what is needed and why.  

4. Name two problems that could happen when testing distance determination. Would it be possible to overcome these issues?

References

Doyle, J.S. (2019). 

Distance Determinations

. FirearmsID. 

Doyle, J.S. (2019). 

Distance: Bullet Holes

. FirearmsID. 

Doyle, J.S. (2019). 

Distance: Gunshot Residue

. FirearmsID. 

Doyle, J.S. (2019). 

Distance: Gunshot Residue Examinations

. FirearmsID. 

Doyle, J.S. (2019). 

Distance: Gunshot Residue Standards

. FirearmsID. 

Doyle, J.S. (2019). 

Distance: Gunshot Residue Test Results

. FirearmsID. 

Doyle, J.S. (2019). 

Distance: Shotgun Pattern Testing

. FirearmsID. 

Dillon, J.H. Jr. (2008). 

Module 12: gunshot residue and distance determination

. NFSTC Firearm Examiner Training. 

Dillon, J.H. Jr. (1990). 

A protocol for gunshot residue examinations in muzzle-to-target distance determinations

. 
AFTE Journal, 22(3). 257-274. 

Dillon, J.H. Jr. (1991). 

A protocol for shot pattern examinations in muzzle-to-target distance determinations

. 
AFTE Journal, 23(1). 511-512. 

Gouwe, J., Hamby, J.E., & Norris, S.A. (2008). 

Comparison of 10,000 consecutively fired cartridge cases from a model 22 Glock .40 S&W caliber semiautomatic pistol

. 
AFTE Journal, 40(1). 57-63. 

1. Explain if firearms identification an art or a science?

2. Firearms Identification has come under scrutiny recently because of the NAS report. Name three of the critiques of firearms identification by the NAS report or other defense attorney’s and state whether these critiques are reasonable.

· Below is a link that has the entire document and the second link is a position paper regarding Firearms and Toolmarks and the third is from a PA defense attorney.

·

Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward

. 

· The Response of the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners[1] to the February 2009 National Academy of 

Science Report “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward

.” 

·

The problems with the modern practice of forensic firearm and toolmark analysis

.

3. Given that you have read articles on studies on consecutively manufactured barrels and articles related to reliability and reproducibility in the last couple of weeks, do you think these critiques are still justified?  If these types of studies are not acceptable, what other types of studies should be done to help support the firearms identification field? Give details. 

References

Hamby, J.E., Brundage, D.J., & Thorpe, J.W. (2009). 

The identification of bullets fired from 10 consecutively rifled 9mm Ruger pistol barrels

. 
AFTE Journal, 41(2). 99-110. 

Mattijssen, E.J.A.T., Witteman, C.L.M., Berger, C.E.H, Zheng, X.A., Soons, J.A., & Stoel, R.D. (2021). 

Firearm examination: Examiner judgments and computer-based comparisons

. 
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 66. 96–111. DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14557.