CNN undercover agent purchases semi auto handguns & rifle without ID or paper work

[DallasNE]

97. That Is Not Established By The CNN Report

So I agree about the crappy job of reporting by CNN, perhaps for different reasons. CNN did not establish who the sellers were, i.e., private sellers or licensed gun dealers, the condition of the weapon (new, near new/unfired, used/fired) and other critical information.

I have always thought that gun shows were organized events where an area was set aside for licensed gun dealers with another area in the room set aside for private sales. Apparently that is not the case and one wonder why. People need to know who they are dealing with. In fact I would think that dealers would insist on this for the integrity of the operation. But this is straying from the original story that in many ways falls apart because too many key details are missing.

One thing I do not accept is the cock-sure notion that these have to be private sales because no licensed dealer would sell without a background check. $1,150 for an AR-15 and case can cause strange behavior. Likewise I have backed away from the impression CNN tried to set up that these were licensed dealers to we simply don't know because it was not established either way. If these were all private sales then CNN has egg on its face for sensationalizing what is essentially a non-story. I hope CNN is smoked out to provide the essential missing details.