Update on CNN issue

SaysUncle reports that a reader has informed him that the ATF in Houston is aware of the situation. The below is directly from the ATF's email response:

I have forwarded this to the Houston office. There is no straw purchase since the transaction does not involve a licensed dealer. However the owner did sell a firearm to a non-resident of Texas which is a violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(5).

This is almost right. It is exactly the impression that the video is supposed to leave in the mind of the viewer. But there are two significant danger signals, too.

This particular email appears to be focusing on the seller.
The author doesn't appear to be aware of the (invisible) straw Texan that has been postulated.

It would be a shame if the seller got nailed and the buyer got off scott-free. The seller MAY be legally in the wrong, if sold directly to Griffin and did not check for a Texas ID. But it falls into the category of a typical mistake for which I have a fair amount of sympathy.

However, if there was a straw Texan involved, the seller is off the hook and the straw Texan and Griffin himself are threatened instead. The question in that case, as noted earlier, is: who owns the gun? The straw Texan? Or Griffin, who videotaped himself pretending to own it and pretending to pay for it?

We'll have to wait and see if the BATFE can sort it out.

BTW, SaysUncle shouldn't get too cocky about exclusives: someone posted a comment to the same effect on my loophole post. Remember, though, it's just a friendly competition... [ed - but yeah, getting an actual response from the ATF is different. Conceded. ]

Posted on 2005-02-22 12:18:12.0 by matthew@triggerfinger.org

Check the groups below and enter your email address to receive updates by email:

The trackback URL for this entry is: http://triggerfinger.org/weblog/servlet/trackback/6243

580 credit score

by 580 credit score

Pepsi Linux tolerated Ackley clam?dues belated quarrel consumer credit report http://www.credit-4me.com/consumer-credit-report.html

No comments have been posted so far.