FAQ

What is the Don't Lie for the Other Guy campaign?

A movement led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to better educate America's firearms retailers on how to detect would-be straw purchasers and to raise public awareness that it is a serious crime to buy a firearm for a prohibited person. The campaign was developed by NSSF and ATF in 2000 and has been active in more than a dozen states. Don't Lie is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods crime prevention initiative of the U.S. Department of Justice.

How does the campaign work?

The ATF identifies key cities in which to launch the Don't Lie campaign. Firearms dealers in and around the city will receive enhanced training materials on identifying straw purchasers. NSSF will lead a public awareness campaign using print, radio and television media to educate members of the community on what a straw purchase is and the severe penalties associated with attempting such an illegal buy.

What is a straw purchase?

A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her. It is highly illegal and punishable by a $250,000 fine and 10 years in prison.

What percentage of criminals obtain their firearms from straw purchases?

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 40 percent of criminals obtain their firearms from friends or family and another 40 percent obtain their firearms from illegal sources on the street. Less than 8.5 percent of criminals obtain their firearms from straw purchases.

Can the firearms criminals purchase illegally on the street come from straw purchases?

According to the ATF, the average "time to crime" (the time span between the initial purchase of a firearm to the time that it is used in a crime) is more than 10 years. This tells us that criminals are using older, recycled firearms, not newer firearms bought from licensed retailers. So, unless you believe that criminals are buying firearms only to use them a decade after the purchase, it is clear that straw purchasing is not a common method for criminals to obtain guns.

If few criminals obtain their firearms via straw purchasing, why does the firearms industry spend so much time and money on the Don't Lie program?

The firearms industry takes very seriously the criminal acquisition and misuse of its products. While there is nothing the industry can do to stop a criminal from stealing a firearm or buying one on the street illegally, the industry can make sure that firearms dealers are as prepared as possible to recognize and stop any would-be straw purchaser. Even if the number of criminals who obtain their firearms through straw purchasing is very low, through awareness programs such as Don't Lie, that number could fall even more.

Should firearms dealers be held responsible for straw purchases?

No. A straw purchase is when someone who is able to pass the FBI background check lies to the firearms dealer about who the gun is for. Unless the straw man somehow tips the firearms dealer off, in which case the dealer would refuse the sale and contact the ATF, there is simply no way for the FFL to know that the purchaser is lying. This is why law enforcement calls it a straw purchase and not a straw sale.

General Questions

1. What is a Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer?

A Federal Firearms License, or FFL, is a license that enables an individual or a company to engage in a business pertaining to the manufacture of firearms and ammunition, and the interstate and intrastate sale of firearms. It has been a legal requirement since the enactment of the Gun Control Act of 1968.

2. Who is a "Prohibited Person?"

The following classes of persons are prohibited by federal law from possessing, receiving, shipping, or transporting firearms or ammunition:

Those convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for over one year, except state misdemeanors punishable by two years or less.

Fugitives from justice.

Unlawful users of certain depressant, narcotic or stimulant drugs.

Those adjudicated as mental defectives or incompetents, or those committed to any mental institution.

Illegal aliens.

Persons who have renounced their citizenship.

Those persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces.

Persons less than 18 years of age for the purchase of a shotgun or rifle.

Persons less than 21 years of age for the purchase of a firearm that is other than a shotgun or rifle.

Persons subject to a court order that restrains such persons from harassing, stalking or threatening an intimate partner.

Persons convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Persons under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year are ineligible to receive, transport or ship any firearm or ammunition.

3. What is the process of buying a gun?

Before a licensed firearms dealer can sell a firearm, the purchaser must complete, under penalty of perjury, a Firearms Transaction Record (Form 4473). Once the form is completed, and before any firearm is transferred, the purchaser must pass a mandatory background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which is run by the FBI. Once the purchaser passes the background check establishing that he/she is not a prohibited person, the firearm may be transferred.

Federal law requires a licensed dealer to report (Form 3310.4) multiple sales of handguns (more than one handgun to the same purchaser within a five-day period) to ATF and local law enforcement by the close of business.

Federal law prohibits the sale of handguns across state lines. For example, a New York resident cannot purchase a handgun in New Jersey.

4. Are most firearms dealers legitimate, law-abiding businessmen and -women?

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics and ATF, the overwhelming majority of FFLs—99 percent—are law-abiding businessmen and women. Criminals rarely obtain the firearms they use in crime from licensed dealers (less than 8.5 percent) and it is important to note that those few criminals who do acquire firearms via licensed dealers do so by passing an FBI background check, perjuring themselves on a government form (another crime punishable by prison time and steep fines) and by lying to the firearms dealer. In 2005, ATF moved to revoke approximately 2.5 percent of all licenses. And, a single violation, even if not intentional, of any provision of the Gun Control Act or the ATF regulations is all that is needed for ATF to revoke a dealer's license.

5. What kind of relationship does the firearms industry have with law enforcement?

The firearms industry has exceptionally strong and longstanding relationships with law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels of government. On March 27, 2001, the City of Boston voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit against members of the firearms industry and declared to the court that, "The City acknowledges that the members of the industry and firearms trade associations are genuinely concerned with, and are committed to, the safe, legal and responsible sale and use of their product."

This includes industry and law enforcement cooperative educational and awareness programs such as Don't Lie for the Other Guy and joint dealer education and compliance enhancement seminars provided in conjunction with ATF. For decades NSSF has provided free booth space to ATF (and more recently FBI - NICS) at its annual industry trade show (SHOT Show) where ATF and NICS interface with thousands of licensed dealers. In addition, every year at the SHOT Show NSSF runs a series of dealer educational seminars with ATF and NICS.

The firearms industry meets quarterly with ATF and FBI-NICS officials to discuss the myriad issues surrounding firearms regulations, legislation, freedom and responsibility.