Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

SecularMotion

(7,981 posts)
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 12:57 PM Jun 2012

Young women in Minnesota being pressured to buy guns for criminals

Young women in Minnesota are being pressured to buy guns for criminals in exchange for cash -- a trend rarely seen across the country, authorities said on Thursday.

Women younger than 30 are being recruited by men ineligible to buy guns because of their criminal records, said Bernard Zapor, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' St. Paul division.

"It's an anomaly for us," Zapor said, adding that there are no concrete numbers on the trend.

In most cases the women know the men. They're handed cash to buy a gun that is immediately turned over to the ex-felon, an exchange called a "straw purchase." Sometimes, they aren't paid at all.

http://www.startribune.com/local/160772405.html

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Young women in Minnesota being pressured to buy guns for criminals (Original Post) SecularMotion Jun 2012 OP
I am surprised this is uncommon Hangingon Jun 2012 #1
One gets the impression that the straw purchases are not being prosecuted. ManiacJoe Jun 2012 #2
There's a tough sort of dilemma in prosecuting crimes like this, I think petronius Jun 2012 #4
Not uncommon. Criminals have always gotten their girlfriends to help out with crime. GreenStormCloud Jun 2012 #3
Who are these criminals and how do they get the women to do it? gejohnston Jun 2012 #5
Oh yea, I am sure they are Meiko Jun 2012 #6
true, gejohnston Jun 2012 #7
I guess the question that I don't see being asked Trunk Monkey Jun 2012 #8
It's the driver for gun laws Meiko Jun 2012 #9

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)
2. One gets the impression that the straw purchases are not being prosecuted.
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 02:37 PM
Jun 2012

Was there something here you wanted to discuss?

petronius

(26,614 posts)
4. There's a tough sort of dilemma in prosecuting crimes like this, I think
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 04:46 PM
Jun 2012

On the one hand, straw sales need to be taken seriously and really should be prosecuted wherever possible. On the other hand, the women in question may not be acting entirely under their own volition, and may be sort of trapped (e.g. through abuse, or economic pressure) into doing what the male partner demands. Plus, even though it's the woman who could be prosecuted for the straw sale, she may not truly have a big share of culpability in the larger criminal scheme.

A similar happens in drug cases: women get caught holding or transporting drugs for someone else, and often end up with severe sentences because they're small fish with nothing to trade...

GreenStormCloud

(12,072 posts)
3. Not uncommon. Criminals have always gotten their girlfriends to help out with crime.
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 03:38 PM
Jun 2012

What do you want gun stores to do about it?

gejohnston

(17,502 posts)
5. Who are these criminals and how do they get the women to do it?
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 04:52 PM
Jun 2012

I hope they are going to the cops and ATF instead of buying the guns.

 

Meiko

(1,076 posts)
6. Oh yea, I am sure they are
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 06:38 PM
Jun 2012

especially after being intimidated by a half crazy drug dealer and threaten with their life if they don't comply.Maybe he say's he will kill your family or beat the shit out of you. Or maybe he will let his gang member buddies rape you while he watches. You are going to buy the guns and you aren't going to say shit. We are dealing with low life drug dealing scum bag gang members here, they are the worst of humanity.

gejohnston

(17,502 posts)
7. true,
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 06:55 PM
Jun 2012

being in the woods kind of makes me out of touch. Drug dealers make the Kochs look like peace loving progressives.

 

Trunk Monkey

(950 posts)
8. I guess the question that I don't see being asked
Fri Jun 29, 2012, 07:11 PM
Jun 2012

is "How does the criminal activity of some random drug dealer affect my right to keep and bear arms"?

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Gun Control & RKBA»Young women in Minnesota ...