Firearms have accompanied humans for many centuries, and over their development, loading systems for bullets and cartridges, the chemical composition of propellant charges, and the types, models, and designs of weapons and ammunition have evolved. A groundbreaking moment was the unification of the bullet with the casing, which allowed part of the gunpowder gases to be vented through a side port in the barrel. This invention led to the development of machine guns.
Firearms have been and continue to be used for various purposes, such as personal protection, protection of people and property, hunting, sports, historical reenactments, collecting, commemorative purposes, and training (alarm signaling) by authorized individuals, as well as by institutions to which these regulations do not apply (Article 10, Section 1 of the Firearms and Ammunition Act of May 21, 1999).
With the advent of firearms, crimes involving their use were also recorded. In such cases, firearms, ballistics, and ammunition examinations became essential to identify the perpetrators. These examinations later became part of forensic science. In cases of unlawful use of firearms and ammunition, various tragic incidents occur, necessitating site inspections and the establishment of further investigation plans.
Crimes involving firearms require the expert opinion of a forensic specialist who identifies the weapon, ammunition, and their components, as well as traces of their use. The specialist checks whether the firearm poses a threat to the safety of individuals involved in the incident scene and investigation. Fingerprint traces are collected from the weapon and ammunition to prevent their loss. The firearm’s operation, technical condition, and key parts are preliminarily assessed to determine if they were factory-made or show signs of homemade modifications.
A firearm expert’s examination is conducted in response to questions directed to the firearms, ballistics, and ammunition expert by the judicial authority. Both individual and group identification of firearms are carried out. Microscopic examinations of traces left by the weapon on the casing, bullet, or hands of potential perpetrators are performed. The resulting expert report is sent to the commissioning authority and admitted as evidence in the ongoing case. In Poland, forensic examinations of firearms and ammunition were conducted following the assassination of President Gabriel Narutowicz in December 1922. The more famous attacks using firearms included the fatal wounding of President J.F. Kenedi or the recent shooting of the Prime Minister of Slovakia.
