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Gun Transfer
The best thing to do is to have gun awareness. Knowing your responsibility upon buying a gun is very important.
11/12/2016 6:53:51 PM

Myrna B. Schnur, MSN, RN
Thank you for your comments. The last sentence has been revised. I was in error in stating that guns manufactured in the US do not need to pass safety standards or testing. There are safety standards set forth by industry organizations (non-government) such as The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute (SAAMI). The federal government however does not have jurisdiction over the regulation of gun manufacturing as a consumer product and therefore safety standards and testing. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the arm of the federal government charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction.1 Section § 3(a)(1)(ii)(E) of the CPSA excludes from the definition of “consumer product” “… any article, which, if sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer, would be subject to the tax imposed by section 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. article 4181] (determined without regard to any exemptions from such tax provided by section 4182 or 4221, or any other provision of such Code), or any component of any such article {firearms and ammunition}1. The CPSC cannot make a ruling or order that restricts the manufacture or sale of firearms, fire-arms ammunition, or components of firearms ammunition.1 https://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/105435/cpsa.pdf
According to the 2000 report issued by the US Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, on Commerce in Firearms in the United States; Working for a Sound and Safer America Through Innovation and Partnership2: “Federal law does not require all sellers of guns to obtain a Federal firearms license. The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) specifically provides that a person who makes “occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or who sells all or part of his personal collection of firearms” is not required to obtain a firearms license2. Non-licensed sellers are prohibited from knowingly selling a firearm to a person prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. However, they are not required to conduct Brady background checks, or maintain records that permit the firearm to be traced if it is recovered by law enforcement officials in connection with a crime.2 (page 11). In modifying the Federal firearms licensing system in 1993 and 1994, Congress added more safeguards to ensure that only legitimate gun dealers obtained Federal licenses.2 Unlicensed sellers do not have the same obligations as licensed firearms dealers to perform Brady checks and maintain records available for examination by ATF and other law enforcement agencies.”2 (page 19) “Federal law does not require unlicensed sellers to preserve transfer records, nor are gun owners required to keep a record of the serial number of their firearms or to report lost or stolen firearms.”2 (page 26)
1. Consumer Product Safety Commission (2011). Consumer Product Safety Act (Codified at 15 U.S.C §§ 2051−2089). Retrieved from https://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/105435/cpsa.pdf
2. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. (2000) Commerce in Firearms in the United States: Working for a Sound and Safer America through Innovation and Partnership. Retrieved from http://www.joebrower.com/RKBA/RKBA_FILES/GOV_DOCS/BATF_report_020400.pdf
1/20/2016 1:16:24 PM

Tim Brooks
Your article is factually incorrect and reinforces an untrue theory that has been perpetuated for far too long. The last line in your first paragraph says; "Guns manufactured in the U.S. do not need to pass safety standards or testing and gun dealers are not required to hold a license, conduct background checks or track sales." U.S. gun manufactures are one of the most closely regulated industries in this country. Additionally any person or organization that sells firearms as a business is required to be licensed and must conduct a federal background check on all transactions including those conducted over the internet or at gun shows. They must also keep accurate records on all sales for as long as they are in business and for 15 years after. Your lack of research is either appalling or intentional, either way perpetuating these myths is a grave disservice to your readers and calls into question the reliability of Lippincott's editorial staff.
1/19/2016 11:48:22 AM