Thursday, June 27, 2002 | 8:53 a.m.
The June 23 editorial on the so-called "gun show loophole" was inaccurate and misleading.
Federal law requires licensed firearms dealers to conduct background checks on a firearms buyer; a dealer does not become exempt from federal law because of a change in sales location.
The only transactions that can be conducted without mandatory background checks are those between private citizens, and those transactions can take place anywhere, not just gun shows. Your own paper offers classified space to individuals selling guns without a background check.
Criminals do not obey laws, (that's the very definition of criminal), and regardless of any law, they will obtain guns. The legislation by Sens. John McCain and Joseph Lieberman would only increase the impediments and delays to law-abiding citizens purchasing arms in a gun show environment.
Perhaps the "gun show loophole" that McCain/Leiberman are trying to close is the loophole in the Constitution that allows lawful citizens to have guns in the first place.
DANIEL WHITE II
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