Concerned citizens, Million Moms and battered women's advocates in Minnesota rallied in support of federal legislation that would close the "Gun Show Loophole" which allows gun buyers to dodge background checks when they purchase firearms http://. According to the US Justice Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, gun shows are the second leading source of illegal guns recovered by federal law enforcement. Between July 1996 and December 1998, the ATF tracked 26,000 crime guns to gun shows.

"There is a dangerous double standard when it comes to background checks for gun buyers," said Rebecca Thoman, MD, executive director of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota. "Thanks to the 1994 Brady Law, licensed gun dealers are required to complete criminal background checks for all purchasers. But at gun shows, while the licensed dealers perform these background checks, private dealers may sell their guns to anyone, no questions asked," Thoman said.

Since its inception, the Brady Law has prevented more than 680,000 fugitives, felons and other prohibited purchasers from buying guns. "Closing the gun show loophole will stem the flow of guns to criminals at gun shows, too," Thoman said.

CSM organized the rally to draw attention to the federal legislation that would require background checks for all purchases at gun shows. The Gun Show Background Check Act of 2001 (S.767) introduced by Senator Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) would require that all firearms sales at gun shows go through a Federal Firearms Licensee. The Gun Show Loophole Closing and Gun Law Enforcement Act of 2001 (S.890), introduced by Senators John McCain (R-Arizona) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut) would require background checks at all gun shows and provides more money to strengthen enforcement and improve automation of criminal history records.

"The principal is simple," said Thoman. "Anyone who purchases a gun, whether at a gun shop or a gun show, should undergo a criminal background check. Closing the gun show loophole is a fair and a common sense measure to keep guns out of the wrong hands."