SEATTLE -- A local man has come up with a state-of-the-art bullet, and it has triggered a controversial debate.

The bullet has your name on it, in a way. Invented by Russ Ford, the small piece of lead has a laser-imprinted bar code on it that Ford hopes will help police connect bullets to criminals.

But the bullet has been controversial since its inception. Some agree that the bullet would help track down criminals while others claim it's just another form of gun control.

"Oh, yes. Anytime that you talk about firearms, the firearms industry or the rights to carry firearms, it's extremely polarizing," said Wade Gaughran of Wade's Eastside Guns in Bellevue.

Gun advocates argue putting serial numbers on bullets is just a back-door form of gun control, and claim registering bullets now will lead to registering all guns later on. They also note the cost of manufacturing the bullets.

"It would take 25 years to actually get enough of these bullets out there and then it would be the odd, stupid criminal that wouldn't remove the laser engraving before he used his gun in the commission of a crime," said Gaughran.

California just passed a law requiring all semi-automatic handguns be equipped with pins that stamp a bullet when it's fired. But similar bullet-tracking bills have failed in other states.

A gun owner himself, Ford hopes the cost of his bullet - just a penny to imprint ten rounds - will make it more attractive. He says in the end, he just wants to help solve crimes.

"A very simple and eloquent and universal solution to the problem and that's how we came up with serialized ammunition," said Ford.

You can read more about this story in Wednesday's edition of Seattle Weekly.