Eighty percent of the traceable crime guns recovered in New York City come from out of state, ATF records show. Of these states only North Carolina requires any sort of permit to purchase a gun. Since the Brady Bill was signed in 1993, federal law has required a criminal background check be run on all prospective gun buyers. But waiting periods vary from state to state. States along the Iron Pipeline have none at all.
Salespeople are responsible for checking to see if customers have prior records or felonies.
They are not responsible for ascertaining the final destination of the firearm, said Green. Too often, it's New York, the governor asserted in his State of the State address. The proposed statewide Special Weapons Interdiction Field Team would target just this type of interstate commerce and aim to stop gun buyers and their merchandise at the state border. As easy as it is to get guns onto the streets of New York, it is almost impossible to get them off. Police try to turn detainees into informants, but ratting on a dealer can get you shot on the street.