ST. LOUIS — NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), announced a month-long public education campaign reminding the Greater St. Louis area public about stiff penalties facing individuals convicted of unlawful firearm purchases. The “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” campaign is in its 23rd year and drives home the message that anyone making an illegal firearm purchase faces a federal felony penalty of up to 15 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. An additional 15 years can be added if the illegal straw purchase is made with the intent of trafficking across state lines. The firearm industry funded the program in full and will now include federal funding allocated to ATF by Congress. St. Louis was chosen for this specific campaign by ATF.
“The firearm industry has always been fully committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not possess them. We are proud to launch this public awareness campaign in St. Louis and of our more than two-decade cooperative relationship with ATF, DOJ and the entire law enforcement community to assist them in their efforts to reduce criminal acquisition of firearms,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi.
The St. Louis area “Don’t Lie” campaign will total nearly 43 million gross media impressions. This includes more than 25 outdoor billboards, digital bulletin boards and posters in key locations throughout the region with the message: “Buy a gun for someone who can’t and buy yourself 15 years in jail. Don’t Lie for the Other Guy.” The campaign also includes more than 1,000 radio spots and more than 2.5 million targeted geofenced online mobile advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
To legally purchase a firearm, a person must pass an FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System verification, or NICS check, and fully comply with all state and local laws. When a criminal is illegally trafficking in firearms or knows they cannot pass this check, they may try to induce a friend or acquaintance to make the purchase for them. This is an illegal straw purchase and is a felony.
The “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” program also involves educating firearm retailers to detect better and prevent illegal straw purchases by providing “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” retailer kits containing a training video and information for store owners and staff, as well as point-of-purchase displays aimed to deter illegal straw purchasers.
Learn more about “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” at www.dontlie.org.
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org
I am curious as to which companies funded it and how much money was wasted on this campaign, which simply reminds people what is obviously already illegal. It sounds like the ATF strong-armed the gun industry into paying for it so they can pretend to be doing something productive. The firearms industry should have given them the finger, since they will likely still be raided by 16 agents sometime in the near future regardless. The ATF does not deserve cooperation or assistance in their shenanigans. The agents should be publicly ridiculed and heckled everywhere they go, even off duty. Make… Read more »
NSSF with their “partners at the ATF” funding undercover stings to help the ATF close more FFLs.
When I was 5 years old I knew that robbery and murder were wrong. Didn’t know about rape. I knew by the time I was 8 it 9 that if I committed a crime I’d lose my Remington 531 and Winchester 37 410. So I didn’t steal hub caps, bicycles or cats. Had a aunt who was a lawyer. Mom and Dad lived in the same room in the same house. The war on guns only disarmed the honest person and creates curiosity about firearms but does teach safe legal use. The BRA EDDIE EAGLE. Is simple and effective for… Read more »
Dear St. Louis Criminals, We know how disappointed you are to no longer be number 1 in homicides per capita. But please do not make straw purchases, (wink, wink) because that would give us the reason we have been looking for to raid and shut down St. Louis FFLs. Besides, most of the staff at the Soros owned DA’s office have quit and they don’t have the resources or even the will to prosecute you. Just continue to break into cars and houses to steal firearms. The city police, true to their motto of “if you’re not cop, you’re little… Read more »
I would like to see some Stats. Like how many recovered guns were Straw Purchased, and similar results.
Can NSSF show that the program has positively impacted Straw Purchases by a reduction? Or are they just blowing smoke up everyone’s arse?
I remember reading a year or two ago about a man who’d Straw Purchased several hundred firearms, getting 6 months monitored supervision for his crime.
A lot of good it does to prosecute when Liberal Judges hand down minor punishments.
Before any of you cry and complain about this do consider the millions of ignorant non gun owners who do not know firearms laws, this program is not for us, TPOTG, but for non gun owners.
Anytime a firearm is misused that situation is then used by the anti-gun people to push for more gun control.
Yeah that’s right. There has to be a balance somewhere. But it’s hard to balance an upside down, inside out, bizarro world.
Just like I used to tell my guys…. There’s no such thing as good and bad…good-n-evil… There is no up, there is no down. There is only the reality of the situation. …. whatever that may be, at any given time. What serves you today, will come for you tomorrow.
failing to recognize Evil wherever it rears it head and moving to extinguish it, is not your only problem.
The NSSF sure does a lot of bragging about supporting infringement. According to the 2A, there is no such thing as an “illegal gun purchase”.
“To legally purchase a firearm, a person must pass an FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System verification, or NICS check, and fully comply with all state and local laws.”
Translation: In order to exercise your rights you must first submit to the violation of your rights.
if it wasn’t for the violent 13%/65% this would not be an issue; they only make it difficult for everyone.