Officials announce program to deter illegal ‘straw’ purchases of firearms

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By MARIA KONOPKEN
Cronkite News Service

PHOENIX (Wednesday, Sept. 24) _ Felons and illegal immigrants aren’t allowed to purchase guns, but many get legal associates, or “straw men,” to buy them and then use the firearms to commit crimes, the U.S. attorney for Arizona said Wednesday.

“When a person makes a straw purchase, that gun is going right into the hands of drug dealers, human traffickers, and it’s going to be found in the streets around our local communities in Arizona,” Diane J. Humetewa said.

Humetewa joined representatives of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and an organization representing gun owners to announce “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy,” a public-awareness campaign to curb the crime.

The goal: reminding the public that buying firearms for someone who has been barred from doing so is a federal offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The campaign, which has been used in Chicago, Atlanta and Newark, N.J., will use billboards, radio and television public-service announcements in the Phoenix area. It also includes training materials that help gun dealers recognize people making illegal purchases.

“Please, please understand what you’re getting yourself into should you ever consider doing a so-called favor for somebody or even being paid $50 or $100 to do it,” said William Newell, special agent in charge of the ATF’s Phoenix office.

The program is partnership between the agencies and the National Sports Shooting Foundation, an organization that promotes responsible gun ownership.

Jeff Parks, owner of Bear Arms Firearms & Accessories in Scottsdale, said the ATF has been good at helping gun dealers address the problem.

“There have been seminars, direct mailing, Web sites, and sometimes an agent will come to talk about new techniques, what is favored by the cartels, and will help us focus on what a reasonable person is purchasing,” Parks said in telephone interview.

However, he said those intent on illegally purchasing guns are good at finding ways to do so.

“They are a lot more slick than they used to be and are going to educate themselves no matter the changes,” Parks said.

Straw purchases also are a concern for legal gun owners, said Landis Aden, president of Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association.

“Ninety percent of us are law-abiding citizens who legally bought our guns,” Aden said in a telephone interview. “It is the other 10 percent who put many in danger by not going through the process, legally.”

Aden said as long as programs such as “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” go after lawbreakers his group will support them.

“If they go after John Q Citizen then we have a problem with it,” Aden said.

Humetewa said that legal purchasers needn’t be concerned.

“If you comply the law nothing will happen to you,” Humetewa said. “If you skirt the law, if you lie on the form or you are a straw purchaser for someone who is not supposed to have those firearms in the first instance, then we will take a serious and hard look at you to see whether or not we should prosecute you.”

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Web Link:
_ Don’t Lie for the Other Guy: www.dontlie.org