Simple law would attack illegal gun market

Our state is awash in firearms. More guns have been purchased this year than ever, and a record number of would be purchasers were turned down by the background check system. Where do these people go to buy a gun after the system flagged them as a danger to society with a firearm?

The black market, of course. There is a thriving black market in PA because it is so easy to ‘ fence’ guns, which is the act of someone legally purchasing guns from a Federally Licensed Gun Dealer in quantity, and turning them over to be sold on the black market by a gun trafficker who often is not be able to pass a background check.

Dozens of guns can be purchased at one time, with the trafficker selling far and wide. Usually these are handguns, which are easy to conceal and most often used in crimes.

Just recently, a Philadelphia man was arrested at West Chester University as a gun trafficker. Daniel Sharif Lucas purchased as many as three dozen firearms in eight counties in less than three months and illegally transferred them to others. Lucas turned 21, the legal age to purchase a firearm, on June 28 and nine days later he began his alleged “gun buying spree.”

The investigation revealed that on more than one occasion, Lucas allegedly visited more than one gun store in a day, purchased multiple firearms at the same time, including multiple purchases of the same make and model of a gun, and traveled great distances to make the purchases. “Buying multiple guns of the exact same make and model is a red flag sign of a straw purchase,” according to Montco County DA Kevin Steele.

What can be done to stem the flow of illegal handguns getting into the hands of dangerous people? One very effective law is ‘ One Gun A Month’- slows the illegal market down to a trickle. Many states have enacted this law, including New Jersey and recently, Virginia with great results.

With big cities like Philadelphia experiencing record gun violence, this is a bill that would really cut down on the carnage in the streets.