Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
Int J Legal Med. 2021 Sep;135(5):2061-2071. doi: 10.1007/s00414-021-02541-y. Epub 2021 Mar 8.
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.
空包弹枪支在法律限制常规枪支获取的国家尤其普遍，人们普遍存在一种误解，认为这些武器是无害的，仅用作玩具或用于威吓。然而，尽管有大量关于空包弹枪支事故、自杀和杀人的报告充分记录了其潜在的危害性，但迄今为止，尚未对从空包弹枪支射击生物靶标产生的痕迹进行系统的分子生物学调查。在此，我们研究了不同类型的空包弹枪支在弹道明胶模型立方体内发射不同类型的空包弹时产生的后喷溅物的出现和可分析性，这些模型立方体内掺杂有人血和放射性造影剂，并浸泡在一个海绵状基质中，表面覆盖着三种不同类型的皮肤模拟物。所有皮肤模拟物都被穿透，100%的射击产生了足以进行法医短串联重复序列（STR）分型的后喷溅物，从而正确识别了各自的血液供体。在所有情况下都记录到枪口和/或枪管内有可见的后喷溅物，在 75%的情况下，在外部表面和射手的手（或手上）也有可见的后喷溅物。测量了伤口腔，深度在 1 到 4.5 厘米之间。在讨论我们的发现时，我们提供了从空包弹枪支中寻找、回收和分析痕迹材料的建议，并展示了这些装置相当大的危害潜力，通过全面概述有关空包弹枪支造成的伤害的相关文献进一步强调了这一点。
