STRAW PURCHASE

A 'straw purchase' is any purchase where the buyer is not eligible to own the purchased item according to the law and therefore purchases the item through a proxy buyer. Although it usually refers to the purchase of illegal firearms, the term can refer to almost anything bought or sold illegally.
In the United States, straw purchases are a felony violation of the Gun Control Act of 1968 for both the ''straw purchaser'' (who can also be charged with lying on Federal Form 4473) and the ''ultimate possessor''.
Many gun shops have jointly participated in programs to deter such purchases.

Contents

Straw purchase other than firearms

Famous straw purchases

External links

Straw purchase other than firearms

A straw purchase can also be defined as any purchase, where the purchaser is knowingly purchasing an item or service for someone who is not able to complete such a transaction. In the realm of a car purchase, a straw purchase is prevalent as well. If a certain individual does not have the appropriate credit to purchase an automobile, based on his or her credit alone, he or she may solicit a friend or relative to purchase the automobile for the use of another. As it is legal to purchase a vehicle for personal use, if one were to purchase a vehicle under the guise of personal use, and to turn the use of the vehicle in a full-time capacity to another, that would also be considered an example of a straw purchase.
A straw purchase can also connote a purchase dealing with a wide range of dealings; including but not limited to: housing, tobacco, alcohol, prostitution, drugs, firearms, automobiles and dealings with credit, such as loans and credit cards.
If intent can be proven, this action is illegal and punishable according to state and federal law.

Famous straw purchases

★ Robyn Anderson for Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre.

★ Noted anti-gun activist Sarah Brady, founder of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly known as Handgun Control, Inc.), purchased a Remington .30-06 rifle with a scope and safety lock at a Lewes, Delaware gun shop, for her son, James Brady, Jr., "as a Christmas present" in 2000. According to Delaware Justice Department spokeswoman Lori Sitler, this purchase was a "straw purchase". Brady confessed to this in her book, ''A Good Fight''.

External links

★ A Joint Campaign to Prevent Straw Purchases

★ ATF News

★ Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition homepage

★ ATF Online Learning Theater