Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The firearms industry and federal law enforcement just marked a milestone. The NSSF and ATF are celebrating 25 years of their “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” campaign.
Launched in 2000, the program fights straw purchases—when someone illegally buys a gun for a person banned from owning one. It’s illegal, it’s dangerous, and it carries serious penalties.
ATF Deputy Director Rob Cekada and NSSF President Joe Bartozzi stood together in D.C. to mark the anniversary. Both made it clear: this partnership works.
A straw purchase isn’t just a bad favor. It’s a felony. Get caught, and you’re looking at 15 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
That’s not small change. It’s life-changing.
Why the fuss? Because straw purchases put guns in the hands of felons, abusers, and others who can’t pass background checks. Those guns fuel violent crimes.
Think robberies. Think homicides. Think gang activity.
The “Don’t Lie” campaign hammers that message home. Retailers are trained to spot shady buys. Ads warn buyers about the steep consequences. And the results speak loudly.
SEE ALSO: The Home Defense Shotgun – My Five Favorites
Bartozzi called firearm retailers the “first line of defense.” He praised their role in keeping guns away from criminals and credited the campaign with saving lives.
Cekada added that the ATF’s mission gets a boost every time a straw buyer thinks twice. Cut off the supply, and you cut off the crime.
This year alone, NSSF delivered over 107 million ad impressions. ATF racked up another 85 million views. That’s a lot of eyes seeing the message.
Don’t buy for someone else. Don’t ruin your life.
After 25 years, the message remains simple and sharp. Straw purchasing isn’t a shortcut. It’s a federal crime with serious consequences.
Want to learn more? Check out NSSF Real Solutions or the ATF’s campaign page.
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! ***
Available on GunsAmerica Now
is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
I commend the ATF for its turnaround after the Operation Fast and Furious under the Obama administration. Agents were forced to make dealers sell multiple handguns to straw purchasers in several border states. Those handguns were then supposed to be tracked to the ultimate buyers. This “tracking” did not happen. In big cities there are hundreds of criminals reselling to gang bangers. I would like to see more arrests.
FYI, a straw purchase for someone who IS legally able to purchase/possess a firearm is still a crime. You can’t buy a gun for uncle Joe who is working out-of-state and can’t make it to the big sale. It is a crime. You can give uncle Joe a gift firearm, though, if he is “legal.” Be safe and legal. j
Except it doesn’t work. Where do cartels get most of their guns? US straw purchasers are the primary source.
Sorry, D. Spoken like a true liberal. The cartels have all the military grade weapons accessible on the world stage. Military deserters bring their weapons with them when they join the cartels. They have their own planes, speedboats and submarines. they can get whatever they want, wherever they want, whenever they want. U.S. straw purchasers are small potatoes. Yes, there were a few “Fast and Furious” guns that got through. That operation ended when Obama’s A.G., Eric Holder, got caught. You are spouting Obama propaganda. Those are the facts. Sincerely, j.
Funny that you guys always resort to name-calling or rhe “blame it on Obama” bullshit. Long since Obama was president, numerous straw purchasers for Mexican cartels have been busted and guns tracked to US purchases. Where is your information coming from since you suggest your statements are “fact” when they are actually simply opinion or Infowars-based comments. Grow up.
buy a gun for someone and you are responsible for incidents after that!