So which is it? (straw purchase penalties)

[wreave]

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...gun?source=pkg

"There's little-to-no punishment for being a straw purchaser," said Brad Beyersdorf, spokesman for the ATF Denver division. "Gang members know it, drug trafficking organizations know it."Under current law, a straw purchaser is only legally accountable for false statements made to a licensed dealer — not for any of the crimes committed with the gun once it has been transferred.
Vigil has been charged with unlawful purchase of a firearm, a Class 4 felony that carries a sentence of up to 16 years in prison.

If there's no teeth in the gun trafficking laws, I support fixing that - though the apparent suggestion that a straw purchaser should be liable for crimes committed with the weapon seems harsh. However, a class 4 felony with up to 16 years in prison already seems like a pretty stiff penalty.

So which is it?

[vossman]

Hmmmm. Makes no sense the way it's written.

[DeusExMachina]

There's little to no punishment because I assume they offer deals to most straw purchasers. Thus Chicago, with the lowest firearm law enforcement rate and highest firearm murder rate.

[brokenscout]

THey need someone to blame, the guy is dead. So next is her? How many of us in a FTF could be considered a "straw purchaser" if the gun was used in a high profile crime. I'm glad I don't own any guns.

[Cthulhu]

Edit for me actually reading the article...Yeah, she's going to be made an example of.

[cstone]

If I burglarize a home and steal all of the legally owned and secured firearms from the residence, do I need to sell them through a FFL? If I sell them to one criminal who is purchasing them for another criminal, would that be considered a straw purchase?

If a wild bear commits a crime but mauls the prosecutor to death, what sort of plea bargain can a good defense attorney get the bear?

Try not to think these things to hard. Reality is hard enough.

Be safe.

[DeusExMachina]

I understand how difficult it is to prove someone is/was a straw purchaser, unless the accused is an idiot and admitted to it, but I'd be surprised if this girl saw any jail time.

The girl that bought the guns for the ex-con who shot the first responders wasn't even charged with unlawful purchase of a firearm. She was indicted for knowingly making a false statement in connection with a firearm purchase; providing guns to Spengler, a felon; and possessing guns while illegally using marijuana.

[OneGuy67]

I'm going to bet this girl gets hammered.

[buffalobo]

I'm going to bet this girl gets hammered.

^This, murderer is dead, prosecutor, govt. And media need a show. Bread and circuses.


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[wreave]

What she gets depends on how smart she was when the cops showed up. It's going to be very hard to convict her without her own testimony. If she shut up and let the lawyers do the talking, there's going to be no one to say she knew Ebel was a felon. Despite her mug shot, she's a clean kid. No prior record, nursing student. Seems odd.

I'm still baffled by the Post and the ATF. How can a class 4 felony with up to 16 years be "little to no punishment"?