Straw gun purchases becoming more common in NEPA
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There are growing concerns among area law enforcement about so-called straw gun purchases. That’s when someone who can legally own a gun, buys it for someone who cannot legally own a gun, such as a convicted felon.
Police say they are seeing an increase in the number of those guns being used in crimes.
It’s a big problem and a big concern. Prosecutors police and gun shop owners. The challenge is preventing these straw gun purchases.
“In Luzerne County, we’ve seen a drastic increase either because the number of straw purchases are increasing or because our investigators are finding them more easily and faster,” said Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce.
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In either case, Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sangedolce says it’s a safety concern for the community and the police because more guns are in the hands of people. Who should not have guns, such as convicted felons.
“Many times we track that down only after a crime was committed with that firearm. We figured out who purchased the firearm and we started bringing people in and tracing the original purchase and figuring out it’s a straw purchase at that time,” explained D.A. Sanguedolce.
Sanguedolce says the gun sale application that is sent to the state police includes numerous questions of the gun buyer.
One of them are you the actual buyer of the firearm? Norm Gavlick has been a gun dealer for 40 years. He says he keeps a close eye on the person buying the gun and has even refused to sell a gun to a person.
“Anybody who walks in here to purchase a gun I mean you always sizing him up and evaluating their demeanor. How do they reactions you know are they nervous? Do they get defensive if you ask them questions?” Gavlick.
Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Joe Coffay tells me he believes that straw gun purchases are adding to the increase in guns on the streets.
“It causes more guns to be put on the street normally with people who shouldn’t have them drug dealers people who were convicted of drug trafficking or felonies,” Chief Coffay.
A federal law was passed in 2022 that increases the penalties for anyone involved in a straw gun purchase. If convicted a person could face anywhere between five and 25 years in prison.
There is no hard data available on how many such purchases have taken place, but according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office estimates the number stands at around 30,000 nationwide.
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