NRA: Keep Person-To-Person Gun Sales Private
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM/CBS) -- The National Rifle Association wants to keep private gun sales private, and has come out against a measure to require federally-licensed gun dealerships to administer private transactions.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Alex Degman reports, Illinois NRA spokesman Todd Vandermyde says gun dealerships don't have time to get in the middle of private deals.
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"Every gun shop I've been into in the last three months is virtually packed all the time, and sometimes I have to wait 15, 20 minutes to get somebody at the counter to be able to help me out in some of these places," Vandermyde said.
Vandermyde estimates that there were more than 250,000 gun sales last year.
The sponsor of the measure says regulation on private gun transactions would be a way to ensure that instant criminal background checks take place.
"Instant criminal background checks stop 800 people a year from buying a firearm when they go through those checks," said Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago). "Those checks take two minutes. They're a safeguard that helps keep criminals from getting guns."
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Dealers would be allowed to charge up to $10 per transaction.
The bill awaits floor debate in the State House.
