Austin Police Right To Urge Criminal Background Checks For All Gun Sales At "Texas Gun Shows"

Jan 20, 2010

Washington, DC -  The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence today offered video evidence to corroborate findings presented by the Austin Police Department about dangerous sales practices at events run by Texas Gun Shows.

Watch the Brady Campaign video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baPgr_tw79Q  The last segment in this video was filmed at a Texas Gun Shows event in San Antonio.

In August 2009, Colin Goddard – a survivor of the Virginia Tech massacre who was shot four times – joined Austin resident John Woods in a visit to a Texas Gun Shows event at the San Antonio Events Center.  Goddard, undercover, filmed Woods' purchase of a semi-automatic pistol from a so-called "private seller" without a Brady criminal background check, or even without identification being shown.  Other dangerous sales at gun shows were filmed in Minnesota, Ohio and Virginia, showing how easy it is to avoid Brady criminal background checks at thousands of gun shows across the country.  Countless so-called "private sellers" sell assault weapons and semi-automatic pistols without checking the criminal or mental health history of their buyers.

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign, said, "This video shows that the Austin Police Department is right to recommend tougher rules at Texas Gun Shows events, including requiring criminal background checks for all gun sales at their gun shows.  The Texas Gun Shows and other gun show promoters have a responsibility to help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people."

Texas Brady Campaign Chapters State President Marsha McCartney, said, "Law enforcement's job of protecting our communities would be made easier if the U.S. Congress would close the 'gun show loophole' and require Brady criminal background checks for all gun sales at gun shows. Representative Doggett and all U.S. House members from Texas should co-sponsor legislation now pending in Congress that would do just that."

University of Texas graduate student John Woods, who lost his girlfriend in the Virginia Tech massacre, said, "'Private seller' is a euphemism for 'no questions asked.' I was never asked for ID, I never had to fill out anything. He asked for my name, and the serial number on his own gun, but I could have lied. This is incredibly irresponsible, not to mention dangerous. The Austin Police Department's recommendations – and HEB's willingness to implement them – are going to save lives and make it that much harder for felons and traffickers to obtain firearms."

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Resources:

Statement of the Austin Police Department: http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2010/01/19/apd_outlines_its_role_in_targe.html?cxntfid=blogs_the_blotter

H.R. 2324, Bill to close the Gun Show Loophole: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR02324:

More information about Brady criminal background checks: http://www.bradycampaign.org/legislation/backgroundchecks

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The Brady Campaign is the nation's largest citizens' lobby to prevent gun violence. We represent the voice of the overwhelming majority of Americans who are tired of living with the constant tragedy of gun violence and are in favor of strong laws and policies that will save lives. We are the light that exposes politicians who are putting the American people at risk, empowering the American people to hold them accountable for decisions and actions that undermine public safety.

We are driven by the focused vision of a nation where all Americans are safe at home, at work, at school, and in our communities.

Dan Gross is the President of the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. A photo and more information about Dan Gross is available here.

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