Group Wants Gun Dealer List Made Public
By George Anderson
Guns used in a crime often come from illegal sources.
In other instances, however, as in the case of 120 stores across 22 states, people later involved in criminal activity buy their guns legally.
While the stores in question represent only one percent of licensed gun shops, they were traced as the source of 15 percent of guns connected to crimes over a five-year period, according to statistics from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
A gun safety group in Washington, DC, the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation, wants a watch list, similar to that used with child molesters, to be made public.
The National Rifle Association said dealers found to be selling illegally should be prosecuted. In the instance of the 120 stores, however, there is no indication of criminal intent in any of the sales.
Moderator’s Comment: Should a watch list of dealers be made public if they sold weapons later involved in a crime?
We too disagree with making a list public of businesses that have not been convicted of having done anything illegal.
We do also, however, know that while there may not always be a fire when there is smoke, there is a decent chance in many instances something is burning.
[George
Anderson – Moderator]