ST. PAUL, Minn. - A video made by a survivor of the Virginia Tech mass shooting is sparking debate on how easy it is to buy a gun in Minnesota. With a hidden camera, Colin Goddard walked past the licensed gun dealers, into the very back of a gun show in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and bought a firearm from an unlicensed dealer. On the video, the dealer even commented: "OK, there's no tax. There's no paperwork. That's worth something."

That comment was worth something to Goddard, who was shot four times at Virginia Tech but recovered, as his goal is to get Congress to close the loophole that allows anybody to purchase weapons at gun shows without a background check. This is Goddard on the undercover video.

"I want to see an America that wants background checks on every gun sale. If there's no background check, there's no gun, there's no excuses. I want to see an America where people are safe, wherever they go."

Goddard didn't even have to show any ID to make the purchase. The video was released by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Gun rights supporters say the transactions in the video were perfectly legal; they claim that gun shows aren't the problem and cracking down on such shows won't get guns out of the hands of criminals. Private gun sales, which require no waiting period or background checks, are legal in most states; only three states regulate such sales between individuals.

Heather Martens of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota says it's time to close the loophole that allows people who can't legally buy a gun from a dealer to buy one in the back corner of a gun show.

"If we had a better way of making sure that people prohibited from owning a gun can't get one, then we will be able to make the state safer."

She says 82 percent of Minnesotans support having a background check done on any gun sale. A bill proposed last year in the Minnesota legislature didn't pass, and she hopes the bill will get back on the table.

In the video, Colin Goddard also bought guns in Ohio, Virginia and Texas. Meanwhile, he has started a national petition drive with the Brady Campaign to get 100,000 signatures by April 16, the third anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting.

The video can be seen at www.bradycampaign.org.


get more stories like this via email

Well over three-fourths of Americans support universal background checks for gun purchases, but federal law allows unlicensed people to sell guns at gun shows and online without one.

Sixteen states now require background checks for gun sales by licensed and unlicensed sellers but Nebraska is not one of them.

The Biden administration is taking a step to close the gun show loophole. By mid-May, a broader definition of who is a gun dealer, and thus required to conduct background checks, will go into effect.

Melody Vaccaro, executive director of Nebraskans Against Gun Violence, said the broadened definition will not affect true "hobbyists," such as antique gun collectors.

"The main way that it goes between a hobbyist and a gun dealer is if someone is selling guns regularly for money," Vaccaro explained. "If monetization is the driver of the gun sales."

Nearly a dozen different violations make people ineligible to purchase or possess a gun under federal law. And since the federal background check system was initiated in 1998, it has stopped nearly 5 million illegal gun purchases.

Those who oppose expanding background checks believe additional regulations burden law-abiding citizens and do not stop potentially dangerous people from getting firearms.

Vaccaro acknowledged it may be true, but is not a reason to stop trying. She hopes the change will help Nebraskans discover their common ground on this issue.

"Everybody is worried about gun violence. Everybody's worried about mass shootings. Everybody's wondering how we can do better; everybody's wondering that," Vaccaro emphasized. "That's not a political party conversation; that is actually something we all share."

And Vaccaro expects most Nebraskans will welcome an increase in the percentage of gun sales to include a background check.

"It is just so basic; it's so pragmatic," Vaccaro contended. "I really would be surprised if there was authentic pushback from everyday people, who are not lobbyists or directly profiting from the gun industry in some way."

Nebraska law regulates handgun sales by both licensed and unlicensed sellers, but private sellers can sell a long gun without a background check.


get more stories like this via email

Background checks on those who purchase firearms at gun shows may soon be expanded.

The Justice Department last week issued a directive to close the so-called "gun show loophole." A final rule submitted to the Federal Register changes the definition of firearm sellers, ultimately requiring they obtain a federal firearms license to sell guns at gun shows, flea markets and over the internet.

Miranda Viscoli, co-president of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, welcomed the new rule.

"There is no reason why anybody should be able to walk into any gun show in the United States of America, if there's not a background check law at the state level, and be able to purchase firearms, no questions asked," Viscoli contended.

The new rule would classify around 23,000 vendors as licensed firearms dealers, making their gun sales subject to checks. The Biden administration has said the rule does not conflict with the Second Amendment, but two Republican senators have already announced plans to introduce a joint resolution to overturn the rule.

Earlier this year, New Mexico lawmakers approved, and the governor signed, several firearms-related bills. One prohibits guns within 100-feet of polling places during a state election. And Viscoli said another bill could reduce the number of sales at gun shows.

"In New Mexico, and this does pertain to gun shows, we just passed a seven-day hold on the sale of firearms," Viscoli noted. "That's going to make it very difficult for gun shows because they would have to mail those guns to people."

In starting her position in 2013, Viscoli attended gun shows to see how easy or difficult it was to buy guns. Despite telling dealers she had forgotten her driver's license and had no identification, she said she was assured it wouldn't be a problem. Ten years later, she believes the proliferation of guns is out of control.

"It's coming to define who we are both as a state in New Mexico and as a country," Viscoli observed. "I mean, when gun violence is a leading cause of death for young people, I don't know why we're not sitting at the table and figuring, 'What the heck do we do about this?'"


get more stories like this via email

Leaders from across Alabama are banding together in a united effort to combat gun violence and seek effective solutions.

Alabama has one of the highest rates of gun violence in the country, with 25 gun deaths per 100,000 residents, almost double the national average.

Nikesha Tilton, gun violence prevention leader for the group Moms Demand Action, said one key contributor is the lack of gun safety protections and programs. She outlined key areas for improvement:

"A good ecosystem has several parts," Tilton explained. "You would have community violence intervention teams that consist of street outreach workers and also having significant programs for youths."

She noted another key part missing in the state's ecosystem to reduce gun violence is collaboration among community groups. She called attention to the work of the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation as an example. It has reduced homicides by 50% through its work.

To address the issues, Moms Demand Action, Faith in Action Alabama and other organizations will be hosting a summit at the Old Ship AME Zion Church today from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Highlighting the struggle for resources as a significant barrier, Tilton believes the summit will play a critical role in addressing limitations by seeking effective strategies to overcome obstacles.

"Funding, making sure that we're doing the work to have intentional relationship building," Tilton pointed out. "Those are two barriers. There's also legislation that could be put in place. "

Tilton hopes the summit will shed light on other avenues to reduce gun violence, such as mental health services, hospital intervention and victim compensation. According to Everytown Research, Alabama experiences an average of more than 1,100 gun-related deaths and more than 3,000 injuries per year.