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U. S. Attorney, Governor, ATF Director, firearms industry
and local media
join forces to stop illegal purchases of firearms in Atlanta.
"Purchase a gun for someone who
can't and buy yourself 10 years in jail."
ATLANTA -- United States
Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia David E. Nahmias, Georgia
Governor Sonny Perdue, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
(ATF) Director Carl J. Truscott and the National Shooting Sports
Foundation (NSSF) today jointly announced a major campaign to significantly
reduce illegal, "straw purchases" of firearms in the
Northern Judicial District of Georgia. The program, called "Don't
Lie for the Other Guy," is designed to educate firearm retailers
on how to detect and deter potential straw purchases and to raise
public awareness that it is a serious crime to purchase a firearm
for someone who cannot legally do so.
The campaign drives home the message that anyone attempting an illegal
firearm purchase faces a stiff federal penalty: "Purchase a
gun for someone who can't and buy yourself 10 years in jail."
"Don't Lie for the Other Guy" is a joint program of
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the US Department
of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods program (PSN) and the National
Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). The program was developed four years ago
to aid firearm retailers in recognizing potential illegal firearm purchases
and thereby to deter those purchases. The program has now expanded to
include a public awareness component to educate citizens that straw purchases
are a serious crime.
"The violent consequences of straw purchases are all too predictable
-- the illegally purchased guns are often recovered later at crime scenes.
The next consequence is predictable, too -- the guns found at the crime scenes
are traced back to the straw purchaser, whose name is on the ATF forms as purchasing
them. And then the straw purchaser is looking at federal prosecution, a felony
conviction, and prison time. It's just not worth it for the straw purchaser
to lie for the other guy," said U. S. Attorney Nahmias.
"Making a gun purchase for someone who cannot legally purchase one on
their own is a criminal act," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "It
is important that we raise public awareness about straw purchases and the negative
impact they can have on public safety."
"Stopping illegal firearm purchases is critical
to ATF's mission of preventing violent crime and protecting the nation," said
ATF Director Carl J. Truscott. "Programs such as 'Don't
Lie for the Other Guy' keep firearms out of the hands of convicted felons,
criminals, and other prohibited persons. ATF is committed to aggressively
investigating and arresting these offenders to make our communities safer for
everyone."
"'Don't Lie for the Other Guy' has been welcomed
by firearm retailers as a valuable educational tool to help them spot would-be
straw purchasers and prevent illegal firearm sales," said Doug Painter,
president of NSSF, the non-profit trade association for the firearms industry. "Our
goal in reaching out to the consumer is to let them know they are committing
a serious crime by attempting to purchase a firearm for someone who cannot
legally possess one."
"We applaud and appreciate the support of the United States Attorney,
the Governor, the ATF and local media for stepping up to lead this effort," Painter
added.
The campaign will visit nearly every federally licensed firearm retailer
in Atlanta to distribute Don't Lie retailer kits that were
developed to aid retailers in detecting and deterring straw purchases.
Each kit contains a video and informational brochure to educate storeowners
and their staff on how to spot a straw purchase, as well as point-of-purchase
merchandise displays aimed to raise awareness and deter this illegal
activity. U. S. Attorney Nahmias will also serve as a spokesperson
in television and radio public service announcements that deliver
the "Don't Lie" message.
Funding for the program comes from a grant for the United States Department
of Justice and the NSSF. This joint funding provides for program administration,
media outreach and ongoing firearm retailer education. The ATF will
continue to work with retailers in their efforts to identify and deter
straw purchases.
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