Mike Levin: “a report published last week in the Buffalo News further exposes how reckless gun dealers and the use of ``straw…”

“a report published last week in the Buffalo News further exposes how reckless gun dealers and the use of ``straw purchasers'' contribute to gun violence in our country. It is important that we recognize their role in adding to our Nation's gun violence problem and work to enact commonsense legislation to keep dangerous firearms out of the hands of violent criminals. Under current law, when an individual buys a handgun from a licensed dealer, there are Federal requirements for a background check to insure that the purchaser is not an individual who is prohibited by law from purchasing or possessing a firearm. ``Straw purchasers'' serve as middlemen by purchasing firearms with the intent of transferring or selling them to other individuals who may be prohibited by law from purchasing firearms themselves or who may wish to hide the total number of firearms in their possession from Federal authorities. These ``straw purchasers'' help to supply the illegal gun market by allowing the true purchaser to obtain firearms, oftentimes in large quantities, without having to pass a background check. This practice is a felony under Federal law. As the Buffalo News report points out, individuals using ``straw purchasers'' are often aided by gun dealers who turn a blind eye to the practice.…”