What should be placed in a separate container from a firearm when packaging evidence?

When packaging evidence related to a firearm, it is crucial to place ammunition in a separate container. This practice is essential for several reasons. First, it helps to avoid any potential contamination of the firearm or the ammunition itself. Keeping them separate ensures that the chain of custody remains clear and that each piece of evidence can be analyzed individually without cross-contamination.

Additionally, storing ammunition separately helps in preventing accidental discharge or malfunction during the handling of the firearm, which can pose a safety risk. Furthermore, it allows forensic experts to closely examine the ammunition's characteristics, such as type, brand, and potential links to a crime, without the influence of other evidence in the same container.

The other options, while important in their own right, do not carry the same significance when it comes to the specific requirements of handling firearms as ammunition does. Identification tags are essential for tracking evidence but do not need separate containers. Clothing evidence may need special handling but is treated differently and doesn't pose the same risks associated with combining firearms and ammunition. Handcuffs, while part of a broader context of criminal evidence, also do not directly pertain to the central function of preventing contamination or safety risks associated with firearms and ammunition.