Current state of the art AES256 attacks take 2^126 operations. Assuming the criminal had unlimited resources, the sun would supernova before he found an answer. I mean, we are talking about the age of the universe times one billion. There isn't enough energy in the Earth to power enough 90% efficient computers to perform even one of these attacks.

So, no, there are no criminals (or anything else) breaking AES256 yet. There's an XKCD cartoon about something very similar.



A microchip on a firearm would just lead to all sorts of fun things, really. Why do you think there aren't any electronic solenoid fired commercial firearms? Because (other than having to carry a charged battery to function) that firearm + a 555 timer and various parts costing under $1 from RadioShack = selectable rate of fire limited only by the physics of the timing of the blowback and feed mechanisms. It would be very similar to the Metalstorm (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEu9LLQpOF8) weapon, but handheld.