Philly Police Chief & D.A. -vs - Economics

**wolfsburg_de** · November 27th, 2007, 11:51 PM

I just watched a segment on Fox 29 with soundbytes from Philadelpha Police Chief Sylvester "In-can't-hear-able" Johnson and Lynn "She's a man, baby!" Abraham where they pushed for legislation in response to the murders of Philly Police Officers. They claimed that straw purchasers frequently "bought 10 guns" , only to have them end up on the street in the hands of criminals. The Hi-Point used by John Lewis was claimed to have been purchased on the street for $200 and the Ruger used by Mustafa Ali was claimed to have been purchased on the street for $300. Since those values are at least as high as the price with tax and background check fees, etc. from reputable dealer, what sort of straw purchaser would sell a gun with no profit? Wouldn't it make sense that the only way someone could buy a gun that cheaply on the street be if it were stolen?

I think straw purchasers should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That does not mean that what's needed are additional laws that have no effect on the actual problem, which is Philadelphia no longer has the rule of law. Criminals have been operating with impunity since the corrupt city government all the way up to John Street "crime" refuse to enforce the existing laws. IMHO, what Philly needs is the sort of quality of life enforcement that NYC found so successful. If the populace has no respect for the police (I can't tell you how many times I have heard the phrase "if there's no blood then there's no crime") then it is unreasonable to expect the murder rate to decline anytime soon.

**Machinist** · November 28th, 2007, 05:15 AM

Originally Posted by wolfsburg_de

What sort of straw purchaser would sell a gun with no profit? Wouldn't it make sense that the only way someone could buy a gun that cheaply on the street be if it were stolen?

A friend or girlfriend might make a straw purchase for no profit.

I think there was a straw purchaser prosecuted some months ago from the Cooperburg area.

**VariableFeedback** · November 28th, 2007, 08:31 AM

I forget which gun it was, but the story said that it was the Feds investigating whoever sold it to the street dealer. You would think that since FTF handgun transfers are illegal in PA, that the Philly PD would be investigating as well, but no, they are too busy traveling to Harrisburg to sit behind Randell.

**wolfsburg_de** · November 28th, 2007, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Machinist

A friend or girlfriend might make a straw purchase for no profit.

I think there was a straw purchaser prosecuted some months ago from the Cooperburg area.

That's a good point, but really doesn't match up with the reported "loophole" that they claim to be trying to close. A girlfriend would have to have 10 boyfriends to hook each of them up with a no-profit straw-purchased weapon.

**ExCopInPhilly** · November 28th, 2007, 10:51 AM

What happens with straw purchases, generally, is that the GF will buy as many guns as she can for her BF and his friends, before anyone notices. Then they all have "clean" guns for a while. By the time that the gun gets sold for "no profit", it has been used before, and someone just wants to get rid of it, so as not to get caught with it, and take the previous cases attached to it, including the charge of just having the gun.

There are three elements which are supposed to kick in when a person buys guns in PA to prevent straw purchases.

1. The FFL - is supposed to identify people clearly doing things which would be indicative of a straw purchaser. A. One person filling out the paperwork, one person paying, B. The BF picking out the gun, then the GF buying what he picked out, C. The person who comes in and buys 4 or 5 of the same "cheap" gun

2. PICS - using the gun purchase database to track abnormalities in a person's buying history. Checking for numerous purchases spread amongst several FFL's, so as not to raise suspicion

3. PSP - Checking to ensure that both of the above parts are working

The problem is that the system has failed, and if you throw the damn book at the GF, and stop giving her a slap on the wrist, maybe she will think twice about making the straw purchase of the gun for her BF and his friends. Also, when investigating the BG, and you find out that he is driving a car that was a straw purchase by the GF or Mom, that is a good place to start looking for the purchase of firearms. That is what we did when I was an LEO, to make sure we knew as much as possible, and to make sure we could come down hard on everyone.