For many people, purchasing a firearm is simple and legal. But this is not the case for everyone. Some people have lost their right to own a firearm.
For example, when someone is convicted on felony charges, they often lose their gun rights. There are other potential reasons, such as a dishonorable discharge from the military.
In some cases, these individuals will try to get someone else to purchase a firearm on their behalf. This is illegal, and it is known as making a straw gun purchase.
Why does this happen?
Essentially, people are trying to get around the restrictions on their firearm rights, knowing that they will not pass a background check because they have a felony or something else on their record that would prevent them from purchasing a weapon. But they may have a friend or a family member who doesn’t have such a record and would easily pass a background check. A straw purchase happens if they give money to that other individual, who then fraudulently buys the gun and indicates that they are purchasing it for themselves, when they are really buying it for someone else.
In a case like this, there can be potential criminal ramifications for both parties. If the person has knowingly made a straw gun purchase, they could be charged for that act. Meanwhile, the other person is still prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm, regardless of who purchased it, so they could also face subsequent legal charges.
These types of criminal cases can be very serious and have strict ramifications. Those who are facing charges need to be well aware of the legal options at their disposal.