Afternoon Magazine Archives

Stephanie Mencimer on the Online Gun Market

 

While the debate over guns has largely broken down to "more regulation" vs. "better enforcement," few are talking about one of the biggest issues surrounding firearms in America--the gray market of online gun sales. Websites like Armslist have created a market where guns are available without background checks. It's believed that over 40 percent of gun sales in the US are now facilitated online. Stephanie Mencimer, a reporter for Mother Jones, has written about Armslist, and covered one shooting death in Illinois, where a woman was gunned down by a weapon purchased in Washington state. Mencimer joins us to discuss the case, and whether stricter laws can be effective.