Once again, Mr. Fordney, you fail to prove your arguments. You state that the gun show loophole sponsor gave a wealth of information that shows that gun shows are a major source or crime guns, but you fail to mention where you found this study.

Personally, I think it’s time this untruth is debunked. There is NO loophole. Private sales have always been legal between individuals. If you are a federally-licensed firearms dealer you have to do a background check, period.Whether it’s at your place of business or at a gun show.

Here are the facts, according to the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice. According to an NIJ study released in December 1997 ("Homicide in Eight U.S. Cities," a report that covers much more than homicide), only 2 percent of criminal guns come from gun shows.The website http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/fuopr.htm states that inmates serving time in state prisons during 1997 said they obtained their guns from the following sources in percentages:

Purchased from a retail store - 8.3 percent

Purchased at a pawn shop - 3.8

Purchased at a flea market - 1.0

Purchased in a gun show- 0.7

Obtained from friends or family - 39.6

Got on the street/illegal source - 39.2

This, coming from the National Institute of Justice, makes it clear that most crime guns do not in fact come from gun shows. Criminals will find a way to obtain firearms no matter what legislation is passed just as they acquire illegal drugs. The continued use of the term "common sense gun control" is used to try to inflict fear to those who are unaware of the facts.

Matt Alger
Luray