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Weapon safety protestors have been pushing states to need background checks at gun shows. The group, Americans for Gun Essential safety, was successful in assisting to close the so-called gun program loophole in Oregon and Colorado. Today, the group releases a study that draws a direct relationship between gun program loopholes and guns used in crimes. Jim Kessler is policy and analysis director for the Americans for Gun Security Base. Visit federal-firearms-license.net for more on gun safes.

Mr. JIM KESSLER (Policy and Analysis Director, Americans for Gun Essential safety Basis): We identified that states that have actually not closed the gun program loophole, they’re swamping the nation by having criminal offense guns, that’s first. Amount two, we located considerable proof that offenders are exploiting this loophole in the law to get guns at gun programs. And three, and this is, I think, particularly good news, when you call for background checks at gun programs, it will not impact genuine gun show business at all. In fact, three of the 5 states that host the most gun shows in the nation have currently closed the gun program loophole by requiring background checks there.

EDWARDS: Loophole meaning some states call for background checks, others don’t?

Mr. KESSLER: Just. Under federal law, anybody purchasing a gun at a gun outlet must go through a background check. However exclusive sales between people, there’s no federal law requiring background checks. And what happens is at gun shows, it’s a sizable grouping of both exclusive vendors and gun shops that come collectively in one spot. In 32 states where they have not passed extra laws, those private vendors can easily purchase and offer without undergoing a background check.

EDWARDS: Now you would think the gun programs would go to states where background checks are not required.

Mr. KESSLER: Well, just what we identified is that there actually is no distinction in the number of gun programs between states that have closed the gun program loophole and states that have not. In fact, set up already this year in states that have actually not closed the gun show loophole, 24 gun programs per state; in states that have actually closed the gun show loophole, 22. There is a little particular niche of offenders who have discovered this loophole and they’re making use of that. Store your weapons in a gun cabinet for additional safety.

EDWARDS: So gun shows are still happening in states that need background checks however are those programs losing online business?

Mr. KESSLER: There’s no proof that they’re losing business. In fact, Pennsylvania has the 2nd most gun shows in the country. They need background checks. There’s a prospering gun program company there. It’s just that crooks aren’t getting guns there. I mean, most of the buying that’s going on is not criminal acquiring.

EDWARDS: So where’s the worst state in your estimation?

Mr. KESSLER: Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, Florida– they are the four leading criminal offense gun exporting states. They are states that do not call for background checks. Their guns are winding up all over the country in the hands of criminals.

EDWARDS: Aren’t the guns accessible at gun shows more challenging to trace and, for that reason, this could possibly mess up your study in some fashion?

Mr. KESSLER: There’s constraints to gun tracing. Tracing basically simply goes back to the original sale. However we do know, first off, that federal law enforcement and their gun trafficking investigations have discovered that it’s the second leading source of illegal guns. But the other point is it’s kind of like cigarette smoking years ago. Individuals who were getting lung cancer were smoking cigarettes. Criminal offense guns are stemming from states where extremely background checks are not needed at gun shows. It’s a frustrating correlation there that’s really indisputable.

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