Editorial: Criminals, guns don’t mix

Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007 | 7:35 a.m.

Earlier this month we wrote in support of an effort by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to track the origin of guns used in crimes. The department had traced several such weapons to a gun shop in Sparks, just outside of Reno.

Such efforts are undertaken to determine whether gun shops are permitting "straw purchases" - those made with the intent of giving or selling the guns to criminals. Support for these investigations comes from the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, which counts 150 U.S. mayors in its membership, including Geno Martini of Sparks.

A co-founder of the group, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, last year sent police investigators into many of his city's gun shops. As the requirement for gun shop operators to be vigilant against straw purchases comes under federal law, all Bloomberg could do was press civil suits against those found to be in violation.

He hoped the Justice Department would take it from there, and file criminal charges where the evidence was strongest. But not only did the Justice Department refuse to bring charges, it also warned Bloomberg about "potential legal liabilities" the city could face if it continued such investigations.

Straw purchases are a mounting problem in communities across the country. The federal government should assist cities as they try to protect their citizens from the danger presented by criminals who can easily obtain guns from seemingly legitimate purchasers.