Anti-gun activist makes illegal gun purchase

Boston Globe paid for out-of-state 'straw' buy
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

An anti-gun activist admitted on a radio show yesterday he made an illegal "straw" purchase of a firearm at an out-of-state gun show with the help of a Boston Globe reporter.

John Rosenthal of Stop Handgun Violence made the admission on "Finneran's Forum" on WRKO 680 AM.

Rosenthal, who wants to see tougher restrictions on firearms purchases, said he made the purchase to make a point. However, the only way the Massachusetts resident could make the buy was by doing it in the name of a New Hampshire resident. Such "straw" purchases are already illegal.

Steve Bailey of the Boston Globe explained how he helped facilitate the purchase over a year ago.

Rosenthal said when he tried to purchase a handgun from a licensed dealer, he was told he could not because he was not a resident of New Hampshire. Bailey and Rosenthal then explained how they brought a New Hampshire resident with them, supposedly a prison guard, who was able to pass the background checks and purchase the gun for them. Bailey acknowledged the Globe paid the bill.

"Unfortunately, the person most vocal in Massachusetts about increasing the restrictions on lawful gun ownership has himself committed a gun crime and will most likely never be prosecuted for it," said Gun Owners Action League in a statement reacting to the disclosure. "This is yet another example of the great hypocrisy from the anti-civil rights elite."