The United States Supreme Court decided Tuesday it would hear the case of a Virginia man who bought a gun for his uncle. The court will determine if it is a crime for one lawful person to buy a gun with intent to resell it to another lawful person.
Abramski v. United States
In the case being considered, a retired police officer bought a handgun for an elderly uncle because the officer could purchase the gun at a discount. The problem arose when the officer filled out the background check form saying he was the “actual buyer.” He then proceeded to Pennsylvania, where the uncle lived, and transferred the firearm to the uncle. The former officer has been convicted of committing a “straw purchase.”
Federal arms laws prohibit sales to someone on behalf of another in an effort to keep guns out of the hands of those who are not legally allowed to have a gun. such as felons and drug users. In such cases, the straw man may face perjury charges for lying about the actual buyer on the federal background check forms. The high court is now charged with determining if the “straw purchase” should apply when a lawful person purchases a firearm for another lawful person. The former officer dose not think the law should be exercised when both parties are law-abiding.
