California has abandoned plans to require serial numbers on every round of ammunition sold in the state. They may push for the issue again next year, but right now there are too many questions surrounding the non-existant technology.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer has shelved a novel gun-control measure that would have required manufacturers to stamp microscopic serial numbers on all handgun ammunition sold in California.

Sen. Joe Dunn, a Garden Grove Democrat carrying the legislation for the attorney general, said he needed more time to resolve a heated debate over how much the potentially landmark tracking system would cost and who would pay for it.

California police organizations have been reluctant to support the measure. Perhaps they realize the futility, or perhaps they are afraid that their own sources of ammo would either dry up or become prohibitively expensive.

Such a requirement would destroy surplus ammo sales in the state. Not to mention that when a box of ammo increases from $10 to $50, it would create a huge illegal trafficking market.