While the majority of Americans are extended the right to own firearms under the Second Amendment, at least once they reach an appropriate and legal age, this right can be lost by certain individuals. For instance, many people who are convicted of felonies are stripped of their Second Amendment rights.
What this means is that the person would not get through a background check if they were trying to buy a gun; they would be flagged as someone for whom that purchase was not permitted. To get around this, they may consider an illegal straw purchase.
Asking someone else to buy the firearm
The easiest way to think of a straw purchase is just to consider asking another person who would pass a background check to take the money and go buy a firearm on your behalf. They can then return and give you the gun.
Doing this is illegal, of course, as it is merely a way to get around the loss of those Second Amendment rights. If you’re caught committing a straw purchase, both you and the person who purchased the firearm for you could face serious legal ramifications. Even if you feel that the loss of your right to bear arms was unfair or unjust initially, trying to circumvent those laws in this fashion can just make your situation worse.
Understanding your legal defense options
If you’ve been accused of buying a gun for someone else or using an illegal straw purchase to obtain a gun yourself, the charges are very serious and can alter the course of your life. Be sure that you are well aware of the legal defense options at your disposal.
