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The United States has a strict federal ban on gun "straw purchases"—when the actual buyer of a firearm is unable to pass a required federal background check,so a different individual buys the weapon for the actual gun owner. The law aims to prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the hands of the erroneous people.
But a number of cases, most recently in Milwaukee, and show that not all gun sellers comply with the law.
Are gun sellers actually concerned about liability or the tragedy of knowing that a gun they sold was used in a serious crime?Steve Walsh is the owner of Ruby's Guns in Ellisville and Sullivan,Missouri. He's a long-time gun owner and professional shooter, and has been a gun retailer since 2007. He says that since one gun shop can give everyone a deplorable name, and sellers must work to discontinue straw purchases.
What you'll learn from this segment:What responsible gun sellers are doing to make certain they're only selling to people who can legally own firearms.
How a gun seller spots someone who may be buying a gun for someone else.
What a seller like Walsh thinks about holding gun stores accountable for crimes committed by people who possess obtained a weapon via a straw purchase.
See Also: Jury Rules Against Gun Store for Selling Firearm Used to Shoot Cops
Source: wnyc.org