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Private Party Gun Purchases Could Become Law
(IRN)-Gun purchases between two private parties would be things of the past if a state lawmaker has his way.

State Representative Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) wants all firearm purchases in the state to go through a federally licensed gun dealership. He says the bill would require the dealer to conduct the necessary background checks.

"Instant criminal background checks stop 800 people a year from buying a firearm when they go through those checks," says Osterman. "Those checks take two minutes. They're a safeguard that helps keep criminals from getting guns."

Osterman says the gun shop could charge up to $10 to offset costs associated with the service, but the NRA, which opposes the legislation, says that's not enough to offset the time devoted to private sales.

NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde says gun ownerships don't have time to get in the middle of private deals.

"Every gun shop I've been into in the past three months has been virtually packed all the time," says Vandermyde. "Sometimes I have to wait 15 to 20 minutes to get someone at the counter to help me out in some of these places."

Vandermyde estimates there were more than a quarter million gun sales last year.
The bill awaits floor debate in the House.

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
04 04 11 by Newsroom
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