Gun Control Reform Activism

-Snip-

Gun shows also serve another purpose: they allow private gun owners wishing to sell or trade a firearm access to large numbers of potential buyers and traders. In most states, those gun transfers are not regulated by law, a move that is praised by gun rights defenders and decried by gun control advocates who say the “loophole” allows persons who would not be able to pass a background check to illegally obtain firearms.

-Snip-

In 33 states, private gun owners are not restricted from selling guns at gun shows. Buyers who purchase guns from individuals are not required to submit to the federal background checks in place for licensed dealers. Critics say that firearms can be obtained illegally as a result, calling it the “gun show loophole.” Proponents of unregulated gun show sales say that there is no loophole; gun owners are simply selling or trading guns at the shows as they would do at their residence.

-Snip-

In 2009, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, founder of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns group, stirred controversy and stimulated the gun show debate when NYC hired private investigators to target gun shows in Ohio, Nevada and Tennessee.

According to a report released by Bloomberg’s office, 22 of 33 private sellers sold guns to undercover investigators who informed them that they probably could not pass a background check, while 16 of 17 licensed sellers allowed straw purchases by the undercover investigators, a process through which a person prohibited from purchasing a firearm recruits someone to purchase the gun for them.

http://civilliberty.about.com/od/guncontrol/a/Gun-Shows.htm