Brady Center Report "Misleading," Says BATFE

In what is seen by many as a desperate lobbying effort to defeat S. 659 – the Senate version of reckless lawsuit preemption legislation – the Brady Center last month released a "study" featuring its list of "the worst players in the gun industry - gun sellers that recklessly operate their businesses and allow criminals to get guns."

Citing data maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), the Brady Center compiled its list of federally licensed, legally operated gun dealers whom it refers to as "bad apples." The report alleges that the so-called "bad apple" dealers named on their list "are doing things that are irresponsible," and are therefore recklessly allowing criminals to acquire firearms.

How does the BATFE – on whose statistical data the Brady Center`s dubious report relies – characterize these findings? In a word, "misleading." Federal authorities disputed the Brady report`s conclusions, stating: "the statistics cited do not provide a complete picture of the types of activities that might warrant federal gun prosecutions." Casting further doubt on the validity of the Brady report`s findings, the BATFE concluded by saying, "[T]he fact is that the majority of federally licensed firearms dealers are not knowingly engaged in criminal activity." Enough said.