The Corrupt Gun Industry In Action

[MrBenchley]

Another in the continuing series....

"About one of every seven guns linked to American crimes or considered suspicious from 1996 through 2000 can be traced back to the same 120 gun stores, a gun safety group said Monday, urging the government to set up a watch list of irresponsible or corrupt gun dealers.
Of the 373,006 guns traced from crimes during the five-year period, 54,694 came from the 120 stores, according to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives. The data, which surfaced in a lawsuit by the NAACP against gun manufacturers, was made public by the Washington-based Americans for Gun Safety Foundation.
The top three gun dealers on his list were Chuck's Guns in Riverdale, Ill., with 2,370 guns sold; Don's Guns & Galleries Inc. in Indianapolis, with 2,294; and Badger Outdoors Inc. in West Milwaukee, Wis., with 1,906. "

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/01/12/gun_stores/index.html

No wonder getting themselves immunity from liability laws is such a priority for the gun industry. Wonder what a full-bore investigation would turn up?

[milliner]

1. And the point

There are a very tiny number of gun dealers who are associated with a huge number of crime guns in America," said Kessler, who wants a watch list of those merchants.

Kessler acknowledged there is nothing to indicate that the 120 stores sold the guns illegally or knew they were selling to criminals. He compared them to the liquor stores of his youth.

If these stores are flaunting the laws the should be prosecuted.

I wonder who was in charge of ATF and the Justice department during this 5 year period.

And one analogy, that I admitt is a stretch

The top four autos stolen in 1999 were Land Rover, Mercedes S Class,Lexus LS 400, and BMW 7 Series. If I own one of these and it is stolen can I sue the auto manufacturer for making and selling a product that ciminals like

[MrBenchley]

2. Imagine what a full bore investigation would turn up...

"Kessler acknowledged there is nothing to indicate that the 120 stores sold the guns illegally or knew they were selling to criminals."
And nothing to indicate they didn't do it deliberately either.

[demsrule4life]

4. The main flaw of the report is

the strawman purchase. I will use Blythes in Griffith, mentioned in the report for example (my faforite gunshop before I left Indiana) I walk into Blythes and buy a pistol for myself. Blythes do the background check and I come out clean and they sell me the gun. I walk out and drive over to Gary and sell the gun on Grant St. The gun is then used in a crime. The serial number on the gun is traced back to Blythe's and they take a hit for selling guns to criminals. Maybe it is about time the gun indusry file a few lawsuits themselves against the authors of these bullshit reports.

[MrBenchley]

5. Hahahahahahaha...

"Maybe it is about time the gun indusry file a few lawsuits themselves against the authors of these bullshit reports."
Yeah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h, THAT's gonna happen....

[CO Liberal]

3. They Need to Find Out WHY ...

...the data for these stores is so far out of line with the industry average. If they're doing someting wrong, they should be shut down and/or the owners should do some jail time.

I know that before this thread is finished, there are gonna be at least a few pro-gunners rallying to the defense of the gun shops. I'm basing this on the behavior I experienced yesterday when this story was discussed on a local talk show in Colorado Springs yesterday (The Joseph Michelli Show, KVOR). True to form, the usual gang of rabid pro-gunners who always call in were stumbling all over themselves because someone was saying something bad about a gun shop.

[Wickerman]

6. Locking

Please repost under a less inflammatory Header.