Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Task force takes aim at guns bought in Virginia Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 15:13:22 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Task force takes aim at guns bought in Virginia \BY Matt Neufeld \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Local and federal law enforcement officials yesterday announced a special multiagency task force to stem the "embarrassing" number of handguns illegally bought in Virginia and used in violent crimes in the District. Richard Cullen, U.S. attorney for Virginia's Eastern District, said at a news conference that Virginia is a "major source" for guns found at crime scenes not only in the District, but in cities along the East Coast. "Virginia is, unfortunately, a gunrunning state," said Mr. Cullen, who called the statistics "embarrassing." Earlier in the day, he said Virginia had become "an embarrassment to the rest of the nation" and called the task force "a major step in the right direction to rid us of that terrible distinction." Robert Hynes, a special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), said that during the past 10 years, 40 percent of all traceable guns used in violent crimes in the District were bought in Virginia. The exact number of guns traced was not available. "Our office currently prosecutes more firearm cases than any other U.S. attorney's office in the country," said Jay B. Stephens, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. "Last year, we charged more than 1,200 defendants with firearm offenses." Last year, ATF looked at 1,600 traceable guns used during violent crimes in New York City and found that 41 percent of them were bought in Virginia. Virginia is a favorite among gunrunners because the state places no limit on the number of guns a person can buy within 30 days, Mr. Cullen said. Gunrunners go to Virginia, obtain identification, "fill up their trunks" with guns and "high-tail it" up Interstate 95, he said. Mr. Cullen, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Hynes and Metropolitan and U.S. Park Police officials urged Virginia officials to push for legislation restricting purchase quantities. South Carolina experienced a significant decrease in gunrunning 10 years ago after the state enacted a law that limits purchases to one gun in a 30-day period, Mr. Cullen said. Officials did note that Virginia runs an instant background check on anyone buying a gun. So far this year, the state has turned down 1,300 people who wanted to buy guns, said John Flinn, a state police spokesman. The task force will also target "straw purchases," in which gunrunners with criminal records or those who lack proper identification hire others to make legal purchases for them. Such purchases are common, officials said. The task force will consist of 15 ATF agents, already working out of the agency's Falls Church office, who will be joined by a Virginia State Police trooper, a Metropolitan Police officer and a U.S. Park Police officer. Two additional state police troopers, one in Norfolk and one in Richmond, are also part of the task force. Having officers from different agencies working together on gunrunning cases will speed the exchange of information and ultimately result in cases being closed faster, officials said. The task force will continue to handle certain cases through a toll-free number that people can call to report information about illegal guns. ATF has received about 700 calls since the number went in service in March, officials said. The number is 800/ATF-GUNS. Callers can remain anonymous, but Mr. Hynes said a surprising number of people give their names and numbers. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM