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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2002 HCAGV: Newspaper Classified Ads Allow Prohibited Purchasers to Buy Firearms Without a Background CheckYou’ve heard of the gun show loophole; what about the newspaper loophole?Indianapolis, IN – The unregulated sale of firearms through classified ads in newspapers poses a potential threat to Hoosiers according to a report released today by Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence (HCAGV). The report, Newspaper Loophole a Potential Threat to Hoosiers, provides the results of a survey of newspaper classified advertising policy of Indiana newspapers. The survey revealed that 14 out of 18 (78%) of Indiana’s major newspapers accept classified ads for guns from unlicensed sellers. Of the newspapers that accept classified ads for guns, three newspapers stated that they take ads for rifles and shotguns only – no handgun ads, while the other 11 newspapers take ads for all guns – rifles, shotguns, and handguns. The four Indiana newspapers that don’t accept classified ads for guns from unlicensed sellers are the Huntington Herald Press, The Evening News (Jefferson), the Kokomo Tribune, and the Journal Courier (Lafayette). Under the Brady law, federally licensed gun dealers are required to conduct criminal background checks on all buyers and maintain records of their transactions. However, unlicensed individuals selling firearms from a “personal collection” are not required to conduct background checks or keep records. The report notes that most Americans have heard of the gun show loophole that allows unlicensed sellers to sell guns at gun shows without conducting a criminal background check on the buyer. But gun shows are just one venue for the unregulated sale of firearms by unlicensed sellers without criminal background checks. Other venues include flea markets, estate sales, firearm sales over the Internet, and firearm sales through classified ads in newspapers. “We call the unregulated sale of firearms through classified ads in newspapers the newspaper loophole,” said Robin Olds, executive director of Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence. “And like the gun show loophole, the newspaper loophole allows felons, domestic abusers, minors, and other persons in prohibited categories to buy firearms with no criminal background check, no record of sale, no questions asked. This puts Hoosiers at increased risk of gun violence.” To support its claim, HCAGV points to a 1999 incident in Illinois and Indiana. In June of 1999, Benjamin Nathaniel Smith, a member of a white supremacist hate group, attempted to purchase firearms from a federally licensed gun dealer in Peoria Heights, Illinois. However, the purchase was denied when a criminal background check revealed that Smith was subject to a court restraining order secured by an ex-girlfriend. Shortly thereafter, Smith purchased two guns – a Bryco .38 caliber handgun and a Ruger .22 caliber handgun – from Donald Fiessinger of Pekin, Illinois. Fiessinger advertised the guns sold to Smith in the classified section of the Peoria Journal Star newspaper. Over the following July 4th weekend, Smith went on a shooting spree in Illinois and Indiana that targeted African Americans, Jews, and Asians, killing two and wounding nine others. Killed were Ricky Byrdsong, former Northwestern University basketball coach, and Won Joon Yoon, a South Korean doctoral student at Indiana University. The spree ended when Smith committed suicide following a police chase after his car was spotted in southern Illinois. HCAGV released a letter it sent to Barbara Henry, publisher of the Indianapolis Star. The letter asked the newspaper to change its classified advertising policy to no longer take classified ads for guns. The Indianapolis Star currently takes classified ads for all guns – rifles, shotguns, handguns, and military style assault weapons. “We would like to commend those Indiana newspapers that have already taken responsible action to prevent prohibited purchasers from being able to buy guns through classified ads in newspapers,” said Kathleen George, president of HCAGV. “We hope that more Indiana newspapers will follow their example as an exercise of civic responsibility.” “This country needs to do more to prevent prohibited purchasers from gaining access to guns,” added Lori Lovett, education director of the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence. “Because of inaction by Congress and the Indiana legislature, we need to look at non-legislative initiatives to reduce gun violence. Closing the newspaper loophole is one such initiative.” The survey of Indiana newspapers was conducted by HCAGV as part of a national campaign to close the newspaper loophole – a project by 24 state and grassroots gun violence prevention organizations working in 16 states. Of a total of 282 newspapers contacted in the 16 states, 217 newspapers (77%) responded that they accept classified ads for guns. Sixty-five newspapers (23%) responded that they do not take classified ads for guns. John Johnson, executive director of Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence, and coordinator for the national campaign, explained that the objective of the campaign is not to criticize newspapers for their current policy, but to explain the concern with the unregulated sale of firearms through classified ads in newspapers. Johnson noted that the Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Enquirer, Miami Herald, Sandusky (Ohio) Register and Willoughby (Ohio) News Herald changed their classified advertising policies on guns after the newspaper loophole was brought to their attention. “We are confident that other newspapers, like the Chicago Tribune, will reconsider their classified advertising policy in the interest of public safety,” said Johnson.
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