Sat Nov 10, 2012, 05:01 AM

Slayings spotlight Fla. gun laws

OLDSMAR, Fla. — On probation for misdemeanor battery and for carrying a knife to his high school, Benjamin Bishop had no way to legally purchase the 12-gauge shotgun authorities say he used to kill his mother and her boyfriend Sunday.

Instead, the 18-year-old Oldsmar resident gave $279 to a friend, who bought the gun for him, sheriff's deputies said.

Under the laws of the state of Florida, that friend did not commit a crime.

The chilling double-murder of Imari Shibata and Kelley Allen at their home in Oldsmar has called attention to a little scrutinized aspect of Florida's gun laws: the absence of penalties for so-called "straw buyers" who knowingly purchase firearms for others prohibited from owning them.

http://www.policeone.com/juvenile-crime/articles/6026946-Slayings-spotlight-Fla-gun-laws/

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3 replies	Author	Time	Post
Slayings spotlight Fla. gun laws (Original post)	SecularMotion	Nov 2012	OP
His friend did commit a crime	glacierbay	Nov 2012	#1
Another false Googledump. at least my dump is authentic...	Eleanors38	Nov 2012	#2
Factual accuracy is strictly optional for gun control advocates.	friendly_iconoclast	Nov 2012	#3

Response to SecularMotion (Original post)

Sat Nov 10, 2012, 09:41 AM

glacierbay (2,477 posts)

1. His friend did commit a crime

it's a Federal crime called a straw purchase and it's a felony.

In the context of United States federal gun laws, a straw purchase is defined as any purchase from a dealer holding a Federal Firearms License where the buyer conducting the transaction is acting as a proxy for another person. The law does not distinguish between someone who is purchasing on behalf of a person who legally cannot purchase or possess a firearm, and one who is not.

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. One of the questions on Form 4473 is “I am the buyer of this firearm” and the purchaser must answer honestly yes or no, by checking the appropriate box in ink. However, purchase of a firearm as a bona fide gift for someone who can legally own such a firearm is permitted.

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Response to SecularMotion (Original post)

Sat Nov 10, 2012, 09:53 AM

Eleanors38 (3,424 posts)

2. Another false Googledump. at least my dump is authentic...

Sorry to punture your balloon, but the little punk did violate the law.

Crims and enabled thug wanabes are like that.BTW, what makes FL law so unique, or is this another regional stereotype, like Texas?

Arizona next?

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Response to Eleanors38 (Reply #2)

Sat Nov 10, 2012, 04:44 PM

friendly_iconoclast (8,854 posts)

3. Factual accuracy is strictly optional for gun control advocates.

They've got TRVTH on their side, dontcha know?

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