Campaign launches in Jackson Metro to curtail illegal gun purchases. See details here

Over the next month, community members in the Jackson Metro area may notice various billboards, radio spots and social media posts informing audiences of the consequences of "straw purchasing."

"Straw purchasing" refers to buying a firearm for someone else who cannot legally purchase one on their own, an action that can result in up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has partnered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to bring the "Don't Lie for the Other Guy" campaign to the Jackson Metro area.

On Thursday morning, campaign representatives stood in front of firearm displays in Downrange Gun and Tactical in Clinton to announce the campaign's details. Downrange Gun and Tactical is one of more than 10,000 members the NSSF trade association.

The ATF, NSSF and the Department of Justice created the "Don't Lie" campaign 24 years ago in an effort to curtail illegal straw purchasing by partnering with local law enforcement.

This Jackson-area campaign marks the first time "Don't Lie" has come to Mississippi.

Jackson is one of three areas chosen for this year's campaign. The locations are determined by trends in illegal gun purchasing and violent crimes involving guns.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson said the Jackson area was chosen due to its elevated level of gun crimes per capita.

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"ATF focuses this message toward the most impacted areas," Jackson said. "The campaign's purpose is to "prevent, reduce and solve violent crime, specifically gun crime."

Jackson emphasized that firearm trafficking groups within Mississippi have a significant impact outside the state as many firearms illegally purchased in the state end up in cities such as Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

"We want to help prevent some of these instances of mass shootings, gang violence and other crimes that we see that are really plaguing our cities and communities," Jackson said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Mississippi Pat Lemon said in 2020 his office prosecuted an individual who had purchased a firearm on behalf of a three-time convicted felon. Examples like this, Lemon said, pose serious risks to Mississippians.

Jackson noted that illegal straw purchasing does not apply to gifting firearms to someone who can legally own one. For example, if someone buys a firearm as a gift for a loved one who can also legally purchase firearms, that instance does not count as illegal straw purchasing.

NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi said the "Don't Lie" campaign is crucial in the national effort to prevent illegal straw purchases.

"Neighborhood firearm retailers, including those throughout the Jackson area and the state of Mississippi, are absolutely the first line of defense against these types of illegal purchases," Bartozzi said.

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Bartozzi described the Jackson "Don't Lie" campaign as "robust," and said he saw the billboards up already on the way in from the airport the day before Thursday's press conference.

In total, the Jackson area campaign, fully funded by the firearm industry, will include 36 billboard and poster displays placed along high traffic streets and highways, 1,200 radio spots and more than 3 million advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.

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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS area campaign to curtail illegal gun sales