Abstract
Blank cartridge guns are prevalent especially in countries with laws restricting access to conventional firearms, and it is a common misconception that these weapons are harmless and only used as toys or for intimidation. However, although their harming potential is well-documented by numerous reports of accidents, suicides, and homicides, a systematic molecular biological investigation of traces generated by shots from blank cartridges at biological targets has not been done so far. Herein, we investigate the occurrence and analyzability of backspatter generated by shots of different types of blank cartridge guns firing different types of blank ammunition at ballistic gelatin model cubes doped with human blood and radiological contrast agent soaked into a spongious matrix and covered with three different variants of skin simulants. All skin simulants were penetrated, and backspatter was created in 100% of the shots in amounts sufficient for forensic short tandem repeat (STR) typing that resulted in the correct identification of the respective blood donor. Visible backspatter was documented on the muzzle and/or inside the barrel in all cases, and in 75% of cases also on the outer surfaces and on the shooter’s hand(s). Wound cavities were measured and ranged between 1 and 4.5 cm in depth. Discussing our findings, we provide recommendations for finding, recovering, and analyzing trace material from blank guns, and we demonstrate the considerable hazard potential of these devices, which is further emphasized by the presentation of a comprehensive overview of the pertinent literature on injuries inflicted by blank guns.
Highlights
Gun ownership is widespread around the world, and incidents of gunshot related injuries and deaths are well-documented [1] and in some countries so prevalent that gun violence had to be declared as a “public health crisis” [2]
We demonstrate the hazard potential of blank guns based on wound channel analysis and by providing anecdotal but graphic evidence illustrating the destructive potential of a blank cartridge gas jet and a literature collection, to facilitate access to and orientation in an underrepresented field of research
All but one shot penetrated the respective skin simulant, the exception being one shot from the revolver firing “Walther 9 mm R.K.” ammunition at a double layer of skin simulant. This is proof that the gas jet alone as produced by blank guns is sufficient to reproducibly create the energy and cause the correspondent wound ballistic effects that are required for backspatter generation
Summary
Gun ownership is widespread around the world, and incidents of gunshot related injuries and deaths are well-documented [1] and in some countries so prevalent that gun violence had to be declared as a “public health crisis” [2]. Blank firing guns, on the other hand, and due to the lack of a projectile, are regarded by many as less hazardous to be used as toys or non-lethal devices for self-defense. They are freely available in many countries for adults and can be purchased without any need for registration, and with no proper regulation in place. Numerous case reports are available, experimental studies focusing on blank guns are limited Their ability to severely injure or even kill is highly underrated, even though comments on their potential hazard including warnings against misuse had
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