Even though both parties were legally able to buy the gun, he committed perjury by stating he was the actual buyer.

But until we actually prosecute these cases a whole lot more, the existence of the law won't matter much. Even in cases where straw buyers buy gun for mass shootings sometimes they don't get prosecuted, and other cases of perjury on the same form and process don't get prosecuted by the hundreds of thousands (cases where a person attempts to buy a gun and gets denied on the background check- that means they filled the form out swearing under penalty of perjury they were eligible and were not).

Exactly the point I just made on another thread about this same story but you said it MUCH better than I did.

It's always been a 10 year/10,000$ fine felony for a straw purchase. This just means it survived challenge. (A good decision, IMO)


And it's really never been enforced. Most straw purchasers that are even under observation move hundreds of guns over a period of months to years while under investigation before arrest.

It's ridiculous.

When I was a deputy I handed the BATFE a clear cut case of straw purchase, with videotaped confession no less.

They didn't prosecute.

It seems like they have budget.

BATFE loves headlines. It has always been a somewhat troubled agency, and they are always out to make a big splash and grab headlines. Much more so for the supervisors, who always have their eye on that next bigger assignment.

US Attorneys are political animals, they want headlines.

Spending your time and effort into a deep, complex operation that nabs 20 members of a biker gang is a much sexier and more attention gathering move than using the same resources to nail 100 straw buyers or people who lie on a 4473 and try to buy a gun while prohibited.

The news doesn't come to a press conference because you busted Suzie Whitetrash at the trailer park buying a gun for her felon boyfriend, even if you manage it 100 times in a year. They do if you busted 20 bikers or gang members all at once.

What a surprise. At some point I do hope they get some "benefit" out of their most heinous rulings.

right wingers - they (and the former Chief Justice) have done more harm than all judges in the past 50 years.

like Scalia, but are the problems with the other two on this?

or only when it involves the purchasing of deadly weapons?

back in 2000! Looks like they've been supporting lying for a long time.

They are surrounded by security peeps. They simply defend the NRA's right to sell weapons to anyone - they do not gie a flying fuck about the lives of anyone except their humanized (by them) corporations and right wing interests.

And four complete blithering idiots did...Kennedy occasionally has signs of lucidity.

RWers on the SC, who decide the outcome they or their backers want, then tell their aides to come up with the support for it, here it is.

Nader helped create this Supreme Court.

since the scotus ruling in bush v gore stopped the recount, which gore would have won.

We already know they love the NRA.

I assumed that it was. If I get caught buying alcohol for a minor, but butt is in trouble. Buying a gun for someone who's prohibited WASN'T a crime?

This guy challenged it because he bought a gun for somebody that wasn't a felon and was eligible to own and buy a gun- he just bought it in his name for a discount.

Some of those judges are getting pretty old. When the times comes to replace one, we need to make sure a Dem makes the appointment and there are enough votes in congress to confirm. It's very important for a lot of issues.