"William Powers, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association, said his group supports eZ Check, as long as it works the way the government says it will."
Uh, the database will be down this week because . . .
Clinton announces initiative to tighten federal gun laws
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton announced new steps intended to tighten enforcement of federal gun laws and make it harder for criminals and juveniles to use fake firearms licenses to acquire guns by mail, the Internet or other means.
In his weekly radio address Saturday, Clinton said the government was creating a new online federal firearms license authentication Web site, known as eZ Check.
"Recently, we saw stark evidence that the Internet is fast becoming a new outlet for illegal guns sales," he said. "We must do more to ensure that every sale over the Internet is legal and that no one uses the anonymity of cyberspace to evade our nation's gun laws."
Under current law, licensed dealers can only ship firearms to other licensed dealers. Sellers are required to obtain a certified copy of the federal firearms license of the individual buying the guns. Criminals, however, have gotten around this requirement by using forged licenses.
Set up by the Treasury Department and its Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, eZ Check will allow licensed gun dealers to quickly verify the validity of licenses presented to them for purchase or shipment of guns.
Over the past several years, ATF has documented a sizable illegal market in guns fed by corrupt federally licensed dealers, straw purchasers and unlicensed gun sellers, Deputy Treasury Secretary Stuart Eizenstat told reporters Friday.
"One blatant case occurred last May in New Jersey. Two juveniles altered a federal firearms license they had obtained over the Internet from a Florida federal firearms licensee they duped into believing they were licensed dealers," Eizenstat said.
"Once they obtained that license from the Florida dealer, they placed an order for four firearms with a Texas dealer. Investigators intercepted the guns, but it serves as a warning that the Internet represents a potential new access to new illegal transactions in guns," he said.
Under current law, licensees are required to obtain copies of licenses from purchasers before making a shipment, but are not required to ensure that these licenses are valid. The new rules will not only require licensed dealers to verify the licenses through eZ Check, but also will require them to report people attempting to obtain guns with invalid licenses, the White House said.
William Powers, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association, said his group supports eZ Check, as long as it works the way the government says it will.
"I think it's certainly appropriate that dealers are licensed by the federal government to be in the business of being a federally licensed firearms dealer," he said. "And if they're coming up with a system that provides greater ability to verify those records, and it works the way it's supposed to, I don't think it's a big deal."
Copyright 2000 The Associated Press.
Uh, the database will be down this week because . . .
Clinton announces initiative to tighten federal gun laws
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton announced new steps intended to tighten enforcement of federal gun laws and make it harder for criminals and juveniles to use fake firearms licenses to acquire guns by mail, the Internet or other means.
In his weekly radio address Saturday, Clinton said the government was creating a new online federal firearms license authentication Web site, known as eZ Check.
"Recently, we saw stark evidence that the Internet is fast becoming a new outlet for illegal guns sales," he said. "We must do more to ensure that every sale over the Internet is legal and that no one uses the anonymity of cyberspace to evade our nation's gun laws."
Under current law, licensed dealers can only ship firearms to other licensed dealers. Sellers are required to obtain a certified copy of the federal firearms license of the individual buying the guns. Criminals, however, have gotten around this requirement by using forged licenses.
Set up by the Treasury Department and its Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, eZ Check will allow licensed gun dealers to quickly verify the validity of licenses presented to them for purchase or shipment of guns.
Over the past several years, ATF has documented a sizable illegal market in guns fed by corrupt federally licensed dealers, straw purchasers and unlicensed gun sellers, Deputy Treasury Secretary Stuart Eizenstat told reporters Friday.
"One blatant case occurred last May in New Jersey. Two juveniles altered a federal firearms license they had obtained over the Internet from a Florida federal firearms licensee they duped into believing they were licensed dealers," Eizenstat said.
"Once they obtained that license from the Florida dealer, they placed an order for four firearms with a Texas dealer. Investigators intercepted the guns, but it serves as a warning that the Internet represents a potential new access to new illegal transactions in guns," he said.
Under current law, licensees are required to obtain copies of licenses from purchasers before making a shipment, but are not required to ensure that these licenses are valid. The new rules will not only require licensed dealers to verify the licenses through eZ Check, but also will require them to report people attempting to obtain guns with invalid licenses, the White House said.
William Powers, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association, said his group supports eZ Check, as long as it works the way the government says it will.
"I think it's certainly appropriate that dealers are licensed by the federal government to be in the business of being a federally licensed firearms dealer," he said. "And if they're coming up with a system that provides greater ability to verify those records, and it works the way it's supposed to, I don't think it's a big deal."
Copyright 2000 The Associated Press.
