Posted on 12/08/2001 11:06:47 PM PST by Sir Gawain
IN Factory Shooting Highlights Need for Improved Oversight
U.S. Newswire
7 Dec 16:33
Indiana Factory Shooting Highlights Need For Improved Oversight Of
Kitchen-Table Gun Dealers
To: State Desk
Contact: Naomi Seligman of the Violence Policy Center,
202-822-8200, ext.105
Web site: www.vpc.org
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The tragic shooting
yesterday allegedly perpetrated by Indiana kitchen-table gun dealer
Robert Wissman at the NuWood Decorative Millwork factory in Goshen,
Indiana, highlights the need for improved oversight of such
dealers, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) stated today. Wissman was
a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder and ran Bob's Gun Works
from the home he shared with his mother.
Kitchen-table gun dealers are individuals who hold FFLs and
conduct business out of their homes or offices but do not operate
actual gun or sporting-goods stores. Federal Firearm License
holders are exempt from state and federal waiting periods and
background checks, and are able to purchase firearms from
wholesalers at discount and in unlimited quantities. The Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has identified kitchen-table
dealers as a key source of firearms in criminal gun trafficking.
The November 2000 VPC study Less Gun Dealers, Less Crime: The
Drop in Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers in the Midwest found
that the number of gun dealers in Indiana had dropped 66 percent,
from 5,872 in January 1994 to 1,970 in January 2000. This decline
is largely attributed to new licensing and renewal criteria
contained in 1993's Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and
1994's Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, as well as
enhanced ATF enforcement. As a result, by 1998 56 percent of FFLs
nationwide operated out of residential premises, down from 74
percent in 1992.
"While much progress has been made in reducing the number of
kitchen-table dealers, and thereby reducing criminals' access to
guns, yesterday's shooting highlights the fact that there is still
much more work to be done," said VPC Policy Analyst Marty Langley.
To continue to build on FFL reforms, the VPC recommends the
following actions:
-- All federally licensed firearms dealers should be required to
operate from a storefront business, not a residence. Licenses
should be limited to businesses devoted primarily to the sale of
firearms. Gun shops should be conspicuously identified to the
public as such.
-- ATF should have the authority to suspend a dealer's license
or assess civil penalties -- in addition to revocation
authority-when a dealer violates the law.
-- ATF's ability to inspect a licensee's premises to ensure
compliance with recordkeeping and other requirements should be
expanded from once a year to at least four times per year.
---
For more information, please contact VPC Communications Director
Naomi Seligman at 202-822-8200 x105 (office), 202-841-5096 (cell).
The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational
organization working to stop gun death and injury in America.
KEYWORDS:
GUNS/FIREARMS, POLICY, POLITICAL
http://www.usnewswire.com
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
12/07 16:33
~~then US Rep. Chuckie Schumer, 1993, on NBC.
Oh, and VPC sucks.
-- All federally licensed firearms dealers should be required to operate from a storefront business, not a residence. Licenses should be limited to businesses devoted primarily to the sale of firearms. Gun shops should be conspicuously identified to the public as such.
Wal-Mart, Academy Sports, etc, etc will never go for this. Of course these screwballs won't be happy until the only place you can buy a gun is some dark alley in the bad part of town, or under the counter at Bubba's Bait and Tackle.
The November 2000 VPC study Less Gun Dealers, Less Crime:
Ok, so he's going to show us how the two are related...
The Drop in Federally Licensed Firearm Dealers in the Midwest found that the number of gun dealers in Indiana had dropped 66 percent, from 5,872 in January 1994 to 1,970 in January 2000.
Ok, step 1, show that the preliminary condition has been met.
This decline is largely attributed to new licensing and renewal criteria contained in 1993's Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and 1994's Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, as well as enhanced ATF enforcement.
Nicely shows that the desired government action (harassment of legal businessmen) produces the condition.
As a result, by 1998 56 percent of FFLs nationwide operated out of residential premises, down from 74 percent in 1992.
Non sequitor. How does the reduction in overall FFLs relate to the number who operate out of residential premises? Total breakdown of logic.
And what happened to the hoped-for results of achieving the condition (Less Dealers)? Did crime go down during that time? What other factors were present? Did SALES go down?
How does forcing a business to operate from a residence change the laws? Doesn't it just open the businessman to more intrusion, since the "place of business" can be searched without a warrant?
I only wish that any of these questions would be answered, or even had anything to do with VPCs actual goal.
Scary stuff.
Its actual goal is, of course, to raise tax-exempt money for its officers and employees. Anti-gun positions are -- to use the technical term -- its "gimmick."
Sure it is just a coincidence. The guy's uncle ended a relationship gone bad with a shotgun. This guy some how got it in his head that this was an acceptable way to deal with heartache.
I bet if they dig deep enough, this guy turns out to have been on 'crank'. Loner trying despirately to work his way out of middle America middle class obscurity and found a 'short cut' with deadly side-effects.
Or those plucked-chicken guns the AF uses to test aircraft windscreens.
Imagine a crazed former postal employee shooting up a big city post office with 30, 40 frozen fryers.
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