http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,2669,ART-45089,FF.html
Ryan targeting Internet gun sales
Associated Press
June 1, 2000
Illinois Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan is asking the federal government for $850,000 to create a special unit to investigate and prosecute illegal gun sales over the Internet and at gun shows, a spokesman said.
And Ryan has an ally in Washington. Dan Curry, spokesman for Ryan, said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., is backing the request for the federal grant.
Recently, the efforts of Ryan's office resulted in charges against three people, one for illegal Internet sales and two for illegal gun show sales.
Christopher T. Tocco, 34, of Goodrich, Mich., was charged last week with unlawful use of a weapon after he allegedly sold a machine gun over the Internet to an attorney general's investigator.
Tocco is accused of selling parts designed for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun on April 11.
"The attorney general felt that the Internet was one place where there may be illegal gun sales taking place," Curry said. "We don't think it will be an isolated case."
The Internet, said Curry, "amounts to the gun show that never closes. It's 24 hours a day."
Ryan's office was already paying close attention to the Internet. Last year, for example, Ryan sued four online pharmacy operations, saying the doctors and druggists were not licensed to practice in this state and therefore couldn't send drugs here.
And in monitoring the Internet for sexual predators and financial fraud, Ryan decided to expand his efforts to monitor gun markets where illegal gun dealing might be occurring, Curry said. "That's why we went to the gun shows," he said.
Wednesday, Ryan's office charged Jeffrey M. Edman, 46, of Oswego with unlawful sale of firearms and violating requirements for transferring a firearm. Edman allegedly sold a rifle in April to an investigator at a gun show at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles. Prosecutors also contend Edman failed to wait 24 hours before transferring the gun and he didn't properly record the sale.
Another man, Charles H. Lane, 24, of Bradley faces similar charges after he allegedly sold a pistol to an investigator at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds in April.
For educational purposes only.
Ryan targeting Internet gun sales
Associated Press
June 1, 2000
Illinois Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan is asking the federal government for $850,000 to create a special unit to investigate and prosecute illegal gun sales over the Internet and at gun shows, a spokesman said.
And Ryan has an ally in Washington. Dan Curry, spokesman for Ryan, said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., is backing the request for the federal grant.
Recently, the efforts of Ryan's office resulted in charges against three people, one for illegal Internet sales and two for illegal gun show sales.
Christopher T. Tocco, 34, of Goodrich, Mich., was charged last week with unlawful use of a weapon after he allegedly sold a machine gun over the Internet to an attorney general's investigator.
Tocco is accused of selling parts designed for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun on April 11.
"The attorney general felt that the Internet was one place where there may be illegal gun sales taking place," Curry said. "We don't think it will be an isolated case."
The Internet, said Curry, "amounts to the gun show that never closes. It's 24 hours a day."
Ryan's office was already paying close attention to the Internet. Last year, for example, Ryan sued four online pharmacy operations, saying the doctors and druggists were not licensed to practice in this state and therefore couldn't send drugs here.
And in monitoring the Internet for sexual predators and financial fraud, Ryan decided to expand his efforts to monitor gun markets where illegal gun dealing might be occurring, Curry said. "That's why we went to the gun shows," he said.
Wednesday, Ryan's office charged Jeffrey M. Edman, 46, of Oswego with unlawful sale of firearms and violating requirements for transferring a firearm. Edman allegedly sold a rifle in April to an investigator at a gun show at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles. Prosecutors also contend Edman failed to wait 24 hours before transferring the gun and he didn't properly record the sale.
Another man, Charles H. Lane, 24, of Bradley faces similar charges after he allegedly sold a pistol to an investigator at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds in April.
For educational purposes only.