Illegal gun buys targeted with photo?
CRANBERRY TWP — In an effort to cut down on the estimated 14,000 guns sold through “straw men” to those not allowed to possess them, several agencies gathered Thursday to push a campaign to crack down on such sales.
The campaign, highlighted at a news conference at the Field & Stream store off Route 19, is called “Don't Lie for the Other Guy,” which aims to stop such straw purchases. “Straw” in this case refers to buying a gun for someone else.
“Lying to obtain a firearm is a federal offense,” said Sam Rabadi, special agent in charge of the Philadelphia Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. “People will be prosecuted on the federal level or through our local partners. Folks will have to face the consequences.”
The campaign was created in 2000 to inform and educate people of this problem. It is funded by the firearms industry.
The ATF estimates that about 14,000 illegally diverted firearms are acquired by straw purchases each year.
Township Police Chief Kevin Meyer also was at the news conference to support the campaign.
He said the straw buying of guns is connected to the opioid crisis facing Butler County and Pennsylvania as a whole, with people buying firearms and trading them for drugs.
“A lot of that activity is driving the need for the firearms trade,” Meyer said. “We are seeing it more and more in Butler County.”
Officials said the opioid connection is just one reason why people make straw purchases.
“Data shows us they make purchases for a variety of reasons,” said Soo Song, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Sometimes it's for money or sometimes it's because they believe they are helping a friend or family member.”
Officials said they want to educate people — including firearms retailers — on the consequences of making these illegal purchases. They said one of the reasons people make straw purchases is because they are unaware of the consequences.
People convicted of straw purchases can face up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine. Penalties could be stiffer if the gun is used in a violent crime or is bought for a felon.
“This is an ongoing national effort,” said Lawrence Keane, senior vice president and general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “There are severe penalties in place for individuals convicted of straw purchasing firearms.”
People can report straw purchases to the ATF or police. Mobile phone users also can download the ATF Tips app to report these purchases.
Retailers can obtain “Don't Lie for the Other Guy” kits by contacting the National Shooting Sports Foundation or by visiting www.nssf.org.
“Retailers are on the front line,” Keane said. “Retailers are the ally of law enforcement. This is to help them prevent this kind of illegal conduct.”
More information can be found at www.atf.gov.
