When someone purchases a firearm, they typically have to pass a background check. After all, there are certain things that can disqualify someone from gun ownership. An example is having a felony record. If someone has a felony on their record that has not been expunged, they’re not going to pass the background check and will not be permitted to buy that firearm.
A straw gun purchase is when an individual who will not pass a background check has someone else buy the firearm on their behalf. They give that person the money for the purchase, and the second individual then proceeds with the purchase, indicating that they are buying the gun for themselves. They will be approved, and they then take the firearm home and give it to the person who actually financed the purchase in the first place.
What are the ramifications?
Some people believe that this is a valid way to get around the background check requirement, but it is actually a serious felony violation. It could result in legal charges both for the person who purchased the gun fraudulently and for the person who received the gun and then illegally possessed it with a felony on their record.
The ramifications can be quite strict. If someone is convicted of these charges, they could face a fine of up to $250,000. This could be in addition to a federal prison term of up to 10 years.
Your legal defense options
As you can see, this is something that you must take very seriously. Even if you were accidentally involved with a straw gun purchase because you did not realize that the sale or transaction was illegal, you could be facing life-altering sentences. At this time, it is critical that you carefully explore all of the legal defense options available to you.