Pa. Attorney General announces arrests in illegal gun sales

    Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican running for Governor, says progress is being made in the fight against illegal gun sales. In 2006, a Gun Violence Task Force was created in Philadelphia to specifically track and prosecute those who buy guns in quantity.

    Pennsylvania’s Attorney General says progress is being made in the fight against illegal gun sales. In 2006, a Gun Violence Task Force was created in Philadelphia to specifically track and prosecute those who buy guns in quantity for the black market.. WHYY’s Tom MacDonald reports. [audio:100318TMGUNS.mp3]

    The Gun Violence Task Force has arrested over two dozen suspects and are seeking about a dozen more on charges of illegal gun trafficking, straw purchasing and other firearms offenses. Attorney General Tom Corbett, who is also a Republican candidate for Governor, says many people who buy guns for criminals, a practice known as a straw purchase, need to understand the consequences of their actions.

    Corbett: Who are the straw purchasers, they are the girlfriends they are the children the children, the friends the neighbors people who are close to these violent criminals who are easily manipulated into buying the guns. They often feel pressured into buying the guns they may be guilt-ed into buying the guns, but they do not understand the consequences of their actions.

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    Corbett’s Philadelphia visit included a display of everything from the so-called Saturday Night Special to expensive semi-automatic Uzis and even a gold plated handgun. Corbett and Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams are vowing to work together to remove guns from city streets.

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