What tools does federal law enforcement need to crack down on corrupt gun dealers?
A. Congress should do remove constraints on ATF’s ability to root out illegal gun trafficking. The details of these proposals are described in [link to Obama Transition Document]. In summary, Congress should: • Give ATF stronger and more flexible authority to enforce the law against corrupt dealers, including: 1) revoking lawbreaking dealers’ licenses, 2) inspecting dealers more frequently than once a year, 3) temporarily suspending dealer licenses, 4) levying civil penalties, and 5) bringing felony charges against dealers for record-keeping violations that often occur when dealers engage in off-the-books gun sales. • Create a felony penalty for knowingly facilitating a straw purchase, • Require licensed dealers to adopt minimum security safeguards to prevent gun thefts, • Require dealers to conduct inventory audits to address the problem of guns “disappearing” from gun shops with no record of sale, • Require licensed gun manufacturers and dealers to perform background checks on their
A. Congress should remove constraints on ATF’s ability to root out illegal gun trafficking. ATF needs stronger and more flexible authority, as detailed in a memo to the Obama Administration. In summary, Congress should: • Give ATF stronger and more flexible authority to enforce the law against corrupt dealers, including: 1) revoking lawbreaking dealers’ licenses, 2) inspecting dealers more frequently than once a year, 3) temporarily suspending dealer licenses, 4) levying civil penalties, and 5) bringing felony charges against dealers for record-keeping violations that often occur when dealers engage in off-the-books gun sales. • Create a felony penalty for knowingly facilitating a straw purchase, • Require licensed dealers to adopt minimum security safeguards to prevent gun thefts, • Require dealers to conduct inventory audits to address the problem of guns “disappearing” from gun shops with no record of sale, • Require licensed gun manufacturers and dealers to perform background check
