* GAO REPORT REVEALS SOME PEOPLE ARE (SURPRISE) DISHONEST . . .

A new report released March 21 by the General Accounting Office (GAO)
reveals that individuals with criminal intent may attempt to evade the
nation's gun control laws by using false identification and lying on the
federal forms required to purchase firearms from licensed gun dealers. The
amazing revelation comes as a result of a five-state, four-month undercover
investigation where GAO agents bought a total of seven firearms from five
dealers using fake drivers licenses in order to subvert the National Instant
Criminal Background Check System (NICS) designed to screen out criminals and
other prohibited persons. The investigation covered the states of
Virginia,West Virginia, Montana, New Mexico and Arizona, and was conducted
at the request of U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA). GAO concluded that there
is "a flaw" in the NICS because it only provides a "negative" check as to
criminal records, but does not require a "positive" check to verify a
purchaser's identity. As to the extent of the problem, the GAO cited a
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) report from last year that
documented 200 gun trafficking investigations over a 30-month period, from
July 1996 to December 1998, that involved individuals falsifying
information to acquire firearms. The GAO offered no specific recommendations
on how to remedy the perceived problem, nor did Rep. Waxman other than to
comment, "We need a system that can distinguish between real and fictitious
people." No mention was made in the GAO report that it is a federal felony
to make "a false oral or written statement" or to exhibit "any false or
misrepresented identification" when filling out the federal firearm purchase
forms. We are sure that Waxman and his gun control followers can come up
with a remedy for this situation... maybe DNA fingerprinting of prospective
firearm purchasers would satisfy them. For most people, however, it comes
at no surprise that criminals find ways (and always will find ways) to break
the law, including gun laws.

Arkansas Gun Owners - www.arkansasgunowners.50megs.com
"The Arkansas Gun Owners Promote Responsible, Legal Ownership and Use of Firearms"