Opposing Views: VIDEO:Shooting Group Working to Prevent Illegal Gun Purchases

Shooting Group Working to Prevent Illegal Gun Purchases

By National Shooting Sports Foundation , Always Shooting for More - October 21, 2009

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The video below gives a good overview of the Don't Lie for the Other Guy straw-purchase deterrent program.

Today in San Diego, the firearms industry, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will join forces to launch Don't Lie for the Other Guy. The goal of the program is twofold: to warn residents and visitors about the severe penalties associated with illegally purchasing a firearm, and to educate federally licensed firearms retailers on how to better detect and deter potential straw purchasers.

Straw purchasers are individuals able to pass the criminal background check required by federal law before the retail purchase of any firearm. However, these people are not the actual buyers of the firearm; instead, they use their good name to commit the crime of providing a gun to a person prohibited by law from possessing a one. The program's key message is: Buy a gun for someone who can't and buy yourself 10 years in jail.

Over the past year, the Don't Lie program has been rolled out in Texas cities along Rio Grande, plus Houston, San Antonio and Tucson. The program was jointly developed by ATF and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

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VIDEO:Shooting Group Working to Prevent Illegal Gun Purchases

B E A utiful

I love this idea! Great start to getting only the responsible law -abiding citizens of America guns .

- ttut21 October 21, 2009 12:49PM

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With all of the hullabaloo about "sensible gun laws"

You'd think everyone should already know that straw purchasing carried a 10 year prison sentence and a $.25MM fine. I have been buying and selling guns (not for the other guy, they can buy their own guns) for years and never knew the penalty for straw purchasing.

- SolarSanitizer October 21, 2009 12:50PM

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Don't Know If Someone Has Criminal History?

Don't chance it by selling them a firearm.

If you sell a gun privately, be sure to create some form of receipt especially if you purchased the weapon directly from a retailer - gun store or pawn shop - which fills out paperwork and submits your information for background checks. Even though gun registration does not exist in this country, those serial numbers are last documented as being transferred in your name.

I've heard many stories of law -abiding citizens being contacted by investigators after having privately sold a firearm which was later stolen or reported missing, then used in the commission of a crime in another state. Keeping personal records / receipts, names, and signatures can save the law -abiding citizens from being hassled at a later time even if they do not suspect it will ever come up.

- m46607 October 21, 2009 3:54PM

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- Don't know about criminal history?
  
  m46607 said: "... gun registration does not exist in this country..." Actually, it does, just not in Texas. In many other states, ALL guns have to be registered with the state and often transfers must be made via official state enrollment.
  
  m46607 also said: "[the gun store] submits your information for background checks..." is likewise wrong. In not all purchases is a background check conducted. For example, holders of Concealed Handgun Licenses are not subject to these background checks.
  
  While it is true that investigators may contact you as the last known owner of a gun used in a crime , you are within your rights to scream: "You'll never take me alive, John Law!" and slam the door in their face.
  
  - Ymal Brucker October 21, 2009 4:37PM
  
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  - Registration is Unconstitutional
    
    Of course SOME states do require registration yet as a Country we do not enforce the registration of firearms . While the Federal Government might have it otherwise, they have a lot of little laws they must impose before they can expect registration and the full surrender that would follow.
    
    It's a simple answer: I do not consider those to be Free States as defined by the Constitution and I stay the Hell away from them. Anyone with a correct, clear-sighted concept of Freedom and Liberty would do so as well.
    
    - m46607 October 21, 2009 5:27PM
    
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  - Bad Idea.
    
    RE: "While it is true that investigators may contact you as the last known owner of a gun used in a crime , you are within your rights to scream: "You'll never take me alive, John Law!" and slam the door in their face."
    
    As a general rule of thumb, you're better off being reasonably polite. Among other considerations, the cop you're rude to today may very well be the one you need help from tomorrow. Why ask for trouble?
    
    - Don Earl October 22, 2009 5:16AM
    
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    - Bad idea?
      
      As a general rule it is always a bad idea to say anything to a cop if you are involved in a criminal investigation , even if it is the truth.
      
      For example: "I was never anywhere in the vicinity" can be rebutted by a mistaken third party.
      
      Or you could make a mistake: "I bought ten bags of chips..." and the Stop-&-Rob clerk testifies they never had as many as ten bags of chips in the store.
      
      In both cases above, and just about any other scenario you can imagine: "How can you believe the defendant when he says he didn't do it when we've shown he lies about so many other things."
      
      When investigating a crime , the cop is NOT your friend.
      
      Fortunately, we do not have a law in this country - as in the UK - where it is a crime to not "assist the authorities in an investigation." We do, however, have laws against lying to the cops (although they can lie to you with impunity).
      
      - Ymal Brucker October 22, 2009 7:12AM
      
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      - Whatever
        
        If you figure it'd sound better to a jury that you said, "You'll never take me alive." and slamed the door, by all means, do it your way. I still don't think that'd be the best approach, particularly if it involves an investigation related to firearms .
        
        Do let us know how it turns out if you decide to go that route.
        
        - Don Earl October 22, 2009 8:12AM
        
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dougd

This problem is that even though this Foundation is legit and doing what they can, there is no way to make illegal gun buyers honest up. No laws affect criminal ever, only punishment. Criminals don't buy their guns honestly, and American guns aren't supplying Mexico. There is no way to stop a deranged violent person without infringing on others. Society needs to practice good behavior and resposibility. Training and awareness and strong punishment are the best paths.

- Dougd October 22, 2009 8:24AM

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