By the way, how do you know that a new gun isn't stolen? A shipment of brand new guns could easily be hijacked and then sold to a sporting goods store by the theives. How does buying only new guns solve the problem?
In fact, in my hypothetical in the above post, I had rather envisioned--though I didn't make it clear--that the shipment of television sets were brand new.
TV's aren't generally used in crimes. Buying a used gun is a very risky business, which is why they are so much cheaper than new guns. You could be buying a gun that was used in a crime or worse, one that malfunctions and can kill you.
It is also very unlikely that a new shipment of stolen TV's, guns, or anything can be delivered to a dealer because money is not going to change hands COD style in that type of business arrangement. Purchase orders generate invoices which generate checks. There is a trail.
At any rate, I have always been taught and will teach my kids to look out for themselves. If a deal is too good to be true, then it likely is. The dealer is in a better position to verify his purchases are legitimate and ultimately bears more responsibility, but let the buyer beware nonetheless.
Beyond this, I can see no reason to put a gun issue before any legislature. The idea that it will come out looking anything like it did going in is incredibly naive'. Giving politicians another crack at anything gun related ought to be very low on a conservative's agenda for another election cycle or two.
I really hate it when one-off situations like this generate legislation. We have a draconian car seat law here in MO that is the product of one kid dying in a car accident. This law has nearly doubled the price of a car seat.
The Ralph Nader, Sara Brady, and Jesse Jackson types have really messed up our country.
I think that most manufacturers of firearms do not sell directly to the public, but rather sell to distributors, probably in bulk amounts. The typical dealer would have to have a distributor as a source of new guns. Buying "new" guns from anybody other than a regular distributor of the firearms would be exactly the type of transaction of which a dealer should be wary.
Many of the firearms I have bought were obtained by the dealer from a distributor who adds their own lifetime replacement warranty to the firearm, promising to replace the firearm if it fails. I don't do much bargain hunting when I am buying guns, because I wan't to support the dealers, and this is an added bonus when I am paying full retail.