Channel 5 Gun Dealer Story a Tragic Case of Blind Journalism

See the story: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/15189840/detail.html

On Thursday, January 31, 2008 Channel 5 of Boston aired a story Weapons Easy to Get; Traffickers Go Unpunished reported by News Center 5's Sean Kelly. The entire premise of the report was how easy it is for criminals to obtain guns in Massachusetts because the neighboring states don't require a background check. The entire story was completely a one sided display of journalistic political action. Not once in the story did the reporter cite the federal laws that require background checks for out of state purchases. Nor did Sean Kelly interview anyone from our side.

The reporter's bias was clearly represented in his final lines in the story: "Changing gun laws will be difficult, however, because the gun lobby spends millions of dollars convincing lawmakers that we don't need more gun laws, but better enforcement of the ones we already have." Of course Mr. Kelly fails to mention the millions that are spent annually by a wealthy minority in attempts to trample the civil rights of innocent citizens.

The reporter allowed completely false statements to go unchallenged. For example:

John Rosenthal is the founder of the anti-gun group Stop Handgun Violence. "I'd say being a gun dealer and a gun trafficker is great business when the federal government has virtually no effective gun laws to prevent it. We are surrounded by Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont where you don't even need an id or a background check to buy a gun," said Rosenthal.

"When reporters allow lies like these to go unchallenged, it provides us with yet another clear example of how the corrupt mass media can only be in the pockets of the wealthy anti-civil rights minority," said Jim Wallace Executive Director of Gun Owners' Action League. "If this reporter had a smidgen of journalistic integrity he would have researched the laws and at least interviewed one person who could have told him the truth about the existing federal and state gun laws. It is stories like this that only hamper the process of creating good laws that go after bad people rather the bad laws that go after good people."

GOAL is urging all of our members to contact WCVB-TV General Manager Bill Fine and express their outrage concerning this poorly researched one sided story.

WCVB-TV
5 TV Place
Needham, Massachusetts
02494

1-781-449-0400

email: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/station/index.html

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From GOAL's Report:  "Stop the Lies, Stop the Crime"

First and foremost, it is against state (Chapter 140, Section 131) and federal law (18 U.S. Code 922(a)(3)) for a convicted felon to purchase or possess a firearm of any type unless their rights have been restored by law. It is also against federal law for a person to purchase a firearm in a state they do not reside in without going through a federally licensed dealer (18 U.S. Code 922(d)(1)) and completing a mandatory background check through the NICS system created by Public Law 103-159.

For the record this is the procedure for a Massachusetts resident to legally purchase a handgun from another state:

1. The individual must possess a License to Carry Firearms under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140, Section 131. (A felony is an automatic lifetime disqualification for this license.)

2. The handgun that is to be purchased must meet the manufacturing requirements of 940 CMR 16.00 and MGL Chapter 140, Section 123. These regulations and laws restrict the makes and models of handguns that can legally be sold in Massachusetts.

3. The handgun must also meet the requirements of MGL Chapter 140, Section 131M which bans the possession, sale or transfer of high capacity magazines.

4. If the handgun is owned by a private citizen or a federally licensed dealer (18 U.S. Code 923) in another state, the handgun must be transferred to a licensed dealer in the state of Massachusetts.
5. The Massachusetts dealer must be licensed under federal law (18 U.S. Code 923) and state law (Chapter 140, Section 122). Once in possession of the handgun, the information must be recorded in the in-state dealers Bound Book (Bound Book - 27 CFR 178.125).
6. The proposed Massachusetts buyer must then appear in person to the Massachusetts Dealer and present their valid License to Carry a firearm and identification.
7. The buyer must complete a federal form ATF 4473 answering about 17 different questions regarding their status as a qualified individual.
8. The dealer must also fill out a state form FA-10 which contains the information of the seller/dealer, the buyer and a description of the firearm. The form must then be signed by the purchaser.

9. If more than one handgun is being purchased within a five day period the dealer is required to fill out BATFE Form 3310 and submit a copy to the BATFE and the state agency in charge of licensing before the close of business.
10. The dealer must then conduct a background check on the proposed buyer through the National Instant Checks System.
11. If the dealer is equipped through the new Massachusetts Instant Records Checks System (MIRCS), the buyer must submit to a digital scan and recognition of their fingerprints.
12. If all the checks have passed, the dealer must instruct the buyer on the safe use and operation of the firearm and provide a tamper resistant mechanical locking device that has been approved by the Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police.
13. If all of the above steps are met, the transaction may take place.

It is clear to any honest person that the process for legally purchasing a handgun out of state is a lengthy process filled with roadblocks and stop gaps. To suggest otherwise is simply a lie!