Source: https://democraticunderground.org/12622581
Timestamp: 2020-08-06 02:03:04
Document Index: 671310718

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 371', '§ 922', '§\n922', '§ 922', '§ 924', '§ 97', '§ 97', '§ 97']

Brady Campaign Sues Mississippi Gun Dealer on Behalf of Family of Slain Chicago Police Officer, Vet - Democratic Underground
DU Home » Latest Threads » Forums & Groups » Topics » Justice & Public Safety » Gun Control Reform Activism (Group) » Brady Campaign Sues Missi...
Brady Campaign Sues Mississippi Gun Dealer on Behalf of Family of Slain Chicago Police Officer, Vet
Chicago, IL - The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence today is serving a lawsuit on behalf of the family of Thomas E. Wortham IV, who was murdered with a trafficked gun outside his parents’ home on May 19, 2010 in Chatham, Chicago. The suit is being filed against the gun dealer and traffickers who sold the gun used to kill him. The lawsuit will be filed today against Mississippi gun dealer Ed’s Pawn Shop and Salvage Yard, Michael Elliot, and Quawi Gates, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Oxford Division. The complaint alleges that Wortham was killed with a firearm illegally obtained in a straw purchase and trafficked from Mississippi to Chicago.
The Wortham family is represented by Jonathan Lowy, Director of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence's Legal Action Project, and Richard Barrett and Don Barrett of The Barrett Law Group, P.A. of Lexington, MS. Mr. Lowy said, “Responsible gun sellers, like most Americans, recognize that guns should be sold with the greatest care, to prevent arming dangerous people with the means to kill. Gun sellers who choose to funnel guns into the hands of killers and criminals must be held accountable. Thomas Wortham served his nation with honor and courage, and he deserved far better. We as a nation should not tolerate irresponsible gun sellers who choose to profit from supplying killers and criminals with guns.
http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/press/view/1582/
9 replies, 2383 views
Brady Campaign Sues Mississippi Gun Dealer on Behalf of Family of Slain Chicago Police Officer, Vet (Original post)
ellisonz Apr 2013 OP
Yes, make the sellers think twice instead of being careless.
supernaut Apr 2013 #3
ellisonz Apr 2013 #4
How should the gun store have known it was a straw purchase? Do they have ESP?
Travis_0004 Apr 2013 #6
Ah, the obligatory NRA
billh58 Apr 2013 #7
You just could not resist.
Kingofalldems Apr 2013 #8
thanks ellisonz
jimmy the one Apr 2013 #9
It's time for many more law suits like this.
2. Yes, make the sellers think twice instead of being careless.
that they choose to go after the gun dealer, rather than the person who made the straw purchase, who actually broke the law.
Response to supernaut (Reply #3)
4. You can download the document in PDF:
2. Ed’s Pawn Shop and its employees knowingly or negligently violated federal and
state firearms laws and knew or should have known at the time of sale that the sale of the
handgun to Michael Elliot, a straw purchaser, was illegal, as Elliott was conspiring with a gun
trafficker. Federal and state firearms laws violated knowingly or negligently by the Defendants
include but are not limited to: 18 USC § 2, 18 USC § 371, 18 USC § 922(a)(6), 18 USC §
922(d)(1), 18 USC § 922(m), 18 USC § 924(a)(1)(A), MISS. CODE § 97-1-3, MISS. CODE § 97-
37-5, and MISS. CODE § 97-37-11.
6. How should the gun store have known it was a straw purchase? Do they have ESP?
7. Ah, the obligatory NRA
defense of the death merchants, and from a Gungeoneer. How refreshing...
8. You just could not resist.
5. thanks ellisonz
9. nra in it's nutshell
travis: How should the gun store have known it was a straw purchase? Do they have ESP?
lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of the murdered Black Chicago police officer “accused the pawnshop of negligence for failing to recognize clues that the gun’s buyer was making an illegal purchase then blocking the sale… accusing its owner Bruce Edward Archer of failing to follow guidelines established by the gun industry’s trade association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, about how to detect a straw purchaser.” (Chicago Tribune, April 25th, 2013).
my source appears a rightwing website, but sorta backs into an acceptable position after a bit of sleaze talk. linked just for the above paragraph: http://www.occidentaldissent.com/2013/04/27/mississipi-gun-shops-blamed-for-chicago-black-murderers/comment-page-1/
A moot point now, but relevant to OP, the nra in it's nutshell: Mar15, 2013. As part of its blitzkrieg against post-Newtown gun control legislation, the {nra} is trying to kill the provision of the Senate bill that cracks down on gun trafficking by imposing harsher penalties for “straw purchases” — that’s when someone buys a gun for someone who is prohibited from owning one, or for someone who is intending to commit a crime with it. There is broad bipartisan support in both chambers for the measure, which would make straw purchasing a federal crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
.. But this week, the NRA is demanding that the Senate change its drafting language: If a person buys a gun and sells it to another person, who in turn sells it to yet another person, the bill’s language could be used to punish the initial buyer of the gun, the NRA says. “It potentially holds people liable for the intention of parties far down the chain of possession.." .. The NRA also wants to change language allowing the govt to confiscate a convicted straw purchaser’s guns and ammunition..
The NRA’s position has outraged those who support the legislation as written. Groups supporting stricter gun control laws, like Mayors Against Illegal Guns, believe cracking down on straw purchases — one of the most common ways criminals get guns — and background checks, another key component of the package, are essential parts of the new legislation.
“As long as straw purchasers are willing to buy on behalf of criminals, law enforcement needs effective tools to pursue these individuals by making this activity a federal criminal offense instead of a slap on the wrist,” said Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.), one of five Republican co-sponsors of the House bill.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), one of the original sponsors of the House bill, told The Hill, “Reports about the draft NRA proposal suggest that it would water down even current law, making it harder — not easier — for law enforcement officials to keep guns out of the hands of criminals by increasing the threshold for convicting straw purchasers.”
Whee, since it wasn't 'watered down' as per nra wishes, did we win something by getting nothing accomplished? (on fed level)