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Originally Posted by kach22i
Also covered in the CBC story is that the makers of the handguns actually know which gun shops are selling to gang members and criminals (based on records and volume). They choose to keep selling arms to the dealers because no Georgia or other state laws are being violated, and the money is just too good.
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That part of the story is more than a bit of a stretch. It is grossly distorted and missrepresented by some one with a clear agenda, and a dimwitted, trusting audience following that agenda. It just does not make sense. Think of it in the context of another product, like beer.
Do brewers know which stores are selling to minors? Can they tell just from sales volumes, locations, or other data they can see? There is a multi-tiered distribution system between the large brewers and the corner store selling their product. I suspect they have regional data, and data by wholesaler, and maybe even by retailer. But how could they tell, from that data, how much of their beer goes to minors? Should it be their responsibility to police it? Would one expect them to limit sales in an area with a particularly bad teenage drinking problem?
I don't think so. I think we would look to the local authorities to do something about their local problem. Shut down the corner store that routinely sells to minors. Punish its owners, revoke liquor licenses; all of that. Local authorities have the means in place to do that. Brewers do not.
Getting back to firearms manufacturers, anyone who has been in the hobby or business for any length of time will vouch for the integrity of the vast majority of them. It is a unique industry, in that a reputation for integrity is more important than most other industries. It is populated by folks who will do what they say, and will say what they do. If the word ever got out that a credible, reputable manufacturer was knowingly supplying a criminal market, their days in the business would be over. No, I'm sorry, but the insinuation that manufacturers are callous and greedy enough to knowingly profit from criminal enterprise just doesn't hold water. Except with the hand-wringing ninnies that would like to view us all as vermin, that is.