Senate Standing Committee on Consumer Protection Committee Passes S.459

Repeals pistol and revolver ballistic identification databank

Albany, NY- Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley), Chairman of the Senate Consumer Protection Committee announced that S.459, passed the committee today and will now move to the Senate floor for full consideration.

S.459, sponsored by Senator Mike Nozzolio, repeals the pistol and revolver ballistic identification databank, otherwise known as the New York Combined Ballistic Identification System (CoBIS). CoBIS has failed to produce a single “hit” on a gun crime since its inception, and is costing New York State taxpayers $4 million per year.

“We have been wasting $4 million a year on a ballistic database system for ten years that has not produced any results. I came to Albany to help cut wasteful spending, and this database has been a waste of time, money and resources. As co-sponsor of this legislation, I am glad that I can help to end a program that was wasting millions of our tax dollars and put that money to good use helping to fund better programs for our law enforcement,” said Senator Zeldin.

“The CoBIS system has proven to be a colossal failure in preventing crime and remains a massive waste of taxpayer money, costing millions every year. Since being established ten years ago, the CoBIS system has failed to link a gun to any unsolved crime. I am pleased that this legislation is moving forward to eliminate this waste of time, taxpayers dollars and manpower,” said Senator Nozzolio.