A gun store robbery was a heist that took only 120 seconds, but the thieves were arrested in less than 48 hours. At least three of the 10 thieves whose
Investigation: ATF rarely issues harsh gun dealer penalties in Pennsylvania
Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, and Brian Freskos, Daniel Nass and Alain Stephens, The Trace
Gun shops nationwide face government inspections to ensure they re complying with federal rules regarding paperwork, background checks and prohibited purchasers, but rarely face severe sanctions.
That s according to a sweeping examination of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives records by USA TODAY and The Trace. It found that policing of the shops has been conciliatory, with the ATF often bending over backward to go easy on wayward dealers coast to coast, and sometimes allowing guns to flow into the hands of criminals.