Straw buys are overhyped as a source of guns, at least in my opinion, but they’re still an issue. Even if you dislike the laws that lead to such things, the truth is that it’s illegal, and it’s going to be leveraged for more gun control at every opportunity. Yes, even if there’s no interest in actually enforcing the laws in the first place.
Which is why the National Shooting Sports Foundation is teaming up with the ATF and the Department of Justice.
NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), announced a month-long public education campaign running through early October. This campaign is designed to remind the greater Palm Beach County, Fla., area public about stiff penalties facing individuals convicted of unlawful firearm purchases. The “Don’t Lie for the Other GuyTM” campaign is in its 26th year and drives home the message that anyone making an illegal firearm purchase faces a federal felony penalty of up to 15 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. The program is funded in full by the firearm industry and is now also complemented by additional federal funding allocated to ATF by Congress. Palm Beach County was chosen for this specific campaign by ATF.
“The firearm industry has always been fully committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not possess them. In its 26th year, we are especially proud to launch this ‘Don’t Lie for the Other Guy’ public awareness campaign in Palm Beach County as part of our cooperative relationship with the ATF, the DOJ and the entire law enforcement community. Our goal is to assist them in their efforts to reduce criminal acquisition of firearms and to keep communities safe,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi.
This is expected to produce about 35 million media impressions by the time the campaign finishes in October. Since fewer than 1.6 million people are living in the county, that should mean everyone will see it at least a few times. Since it’ll be targeted a bit more specifically, there should be ample coverage.
Now, will this work?
Honestly, I doubt it’ll have the ideal impact, if for no other reason than that most people who conduct straw buys know what they’re doing. However, sometimes, a particularly sneaky individual will be all, “You buy it for me, and I’ll pay you for it when I get the money.” They won’t realize that this is still a straw buy, and those are the people it will actually help.
In other words, it’ll serve to make it really hard for anyone to use the “But I didn’t know what I was doing was wrong” defense. Yeah, ignorance of the law isn’t a defense, but many prosecutors would rather not prosecute someone who was just clueless, and juries are even less thrilled about convicting such folks. It doesn’t mean they won’t do it, just that they won’t like it, so in many cases, it doesn’t happen.
Remove that excuse, though?
Well, they still won’t prosecute, but I have thoughts linked to above as to why.
Editor’s Note: The radical Left will stop at nothing to enact their extreme gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.
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