ATF Launches Anti-Straw Purchase Campaign in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has launched a major public awareness campaign to eliminate illegal gun purchases in San Diego.

The "Don't Lie for the Other Guy" campaign focuses on straw purchasers - individuals who purchase a firearm on behalf of another person who is not able to legally purchase one for themselves. Straw purchases are felonies that can result in up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the buyer.

The San Diego campaign launched with a press conference led by ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jose "Joe" Medina accompanied by U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, and Commander Anthony Dupree of the San Diego Police Department.

To purchase a firearm, an individual must complete ATF Form 4473 and a background check via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) . Those who know they cannot pass a background check or do not want their names associated with a firearm purchase oftentimes recruit a friend or acquaintance to make the purchase for them. These individuals are straw purchasers and are committing a felony. Those engaged in gun trafficking often recruit multiple straw purchasers to assist them in acquiring firearms that then can end up in the hands of criminals, gangs and drug cartels, fueling violent crime.

"The San Diego region faces unique public safety challenges because of its proximity to an international border and several state borders. Illegal straw purchases are one of the ways firearms end up in the hands of prohibited individuals and criminal organizations. If someone asks you to buy a gun because they can't legally do so themselves, that's not a favor-it's a federal crime. We want San Diego residents to understand that one bad decision can have devastating consequences for you, your family, and your community," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jose "Joe" Medina.

The campaign is promoted through multiple media channels including billboards, digital-out-of-home (DOOH) screens, desktop, mobile and tablet devices, and programmatic audio in geotargeted areas throughout San Diego. By the end of the campaign run, the message should reach several million people in and around the San Diego region including the international border with Mexico and areas around the borders with Nevada and Arizona.

The campaign will run through July as a reminder to residents of San Diego of the consequences associated with straw purchasing and its impact on their community.