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Related: About this forumState's Drug Problem Is Feeding An Underground Gun Market
Law enforcement officials in Vermont and surrounding states say Vermonts high-profile drug problem is feeding an underground market in which guns, not cash, are the currency.
The trade is fueled by the simple economics of supply and demand. Heroin and other hard drugs are cheaper in urban areas of Massachusetts and New York, while guns are abundant and readily available in Vermont because of the states lax gun control laws and Vermonts culture of hunting and shooting sports.
Jim Mostyn is the resident agent in charge in the Vermont office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He said drug dealers who come to the state quickly learn that not only is Vermont a fertile market, but its also an easy place to pick up a weapon. Those firearms are either stolen or bought by a straw purchaser a buyer with a clean record who is purchasing the gun for someone else, such as a convicted felon, who may not be legally allowed to own a gun. The guns are frequently traded directly for drugs, court records show, and often end up in metropolitan areas like Springfield, Mass., Boston, or New York City.
Inter-state disparities in drug prices and gun regulations combine to form a lucrative market for these scenarios, Mostyn said.
http://digital.vpr.net/post/states-drug-problem-feeding-underground-gun-market
The trade is fueled by the simple economics of supply and demand. Heroin and other hard drugs are cheaper in urban areas of Massachusetts and New York, while guns are abundant and readily available in Vermont because of the states lax gun control laws and Vermonts culture of hunting and shooting sports.
Jim Mostyn is the resident agent in charge in the Vermont office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He said drug dealers who come to the state quickly learn that not only is Vermont a fertile market, but its also an easy place to pick up a weapon. Those firearms are either stolen or bought by a straw purchaser a buyer with a clean record who is purchasing the gun for someone else, such as a convicted felon, who may not be legally allowed to own a gun. The guns are frequently traded directly for drugs, court records show, and often end up in metropolitan areas like Springfield, Mass., Boston, or New York City.
Inter-state disparities in drug prices and gun regulations combine to form a lucrative market for these scenarios, Mostyn said.
http://digital.vpr.net/post/states-drug-problem-feeding-underground-gun-market
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State's Drug Problem Is Feeding An Underground Gun Market (Original Post)
SecularMotion
Feb 2014
OP
gejohnston
(17,502 posts)1. The Gun Control Act is supposed to fill those disparities
I'm guessing the agent realizes that, but like any other agency, they want more money and "turf".
It works similar in Europe, drugs and illegal guns move from places like Turkey and Afghanistan to the rest Europe. The same trade routes are used.
Like I said before, before the drug war gangs rarely used guns even though federal law was more liberal. Then drugs became more profitable. This backs up what I said before:
you end the drug war, you take away the gang's money
take away their money, you take away their guns
ileus
(15,396 posts)2. What an awful trade...
Fine life saving firearms for shit I wouldn't contaminate my septic system for.
What kind of dumbass would trade a wonderful firearm for useless temporary poison.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)3. No surprise. nt