INDIANA — A federal and local coalition is ramping up efforts across Indiana to combat violent crime by targeting straw purchasing—the practice of buying a firearm for someone who cannot legally own one.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and the U.S. Department of Justice announced the launch of the 26th annual nationwide “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” campaign. The state initiative carries a stark message for potential illegal buyers: making a straw purchase is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
According to law enforcement officials, straw purchases serve as a primary pipeline funneling illegal firearms directly into violent crime, gang activity, domestic abuse, and drug trafficking.
Double the Cases, Doubled Efforts
The campaign comes at a critical time for local law enforcement. ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo noted a sharp uptick in illegal firearm activity across the region.
“If you compare the numbers from last year to this year, we doubled the numbers when it comes to trafficking cases,” Rosendo said. “So that means it’s a serious issue that we are dealing with.”
To illustrate the scale of the problem, U.S. Attorney Thomas Wheeler for the Southern District of Indiana pointed to an ongoing major prosecution in the capital.
“Right now, my office is prosecuting a straw purchasing and gun trafficking ring of 15 individuals who lived and operated here in Indianapolis,” Wheeler said. “Leaders of the ring would pay people without criminal records to purchase dozens of firearms to resell them to those who could not legally buy guns.”
Multi-Media Blitz and Retailer Training
To ensure the warning reaches as many residents as possible, the state campaign will deploy a massive multi-media blitz projected to generate nearly 21.5 million gross media impressions through September. The push includes:
- 18 Billboards strategically placed throughout Indianapolis.
- 140+ Transit Displays across IndyGo buses and stops.
- 1,300+ Radio Spots airing across five top FM stations in the market.
- 4.4 Million Impressions across social media platforms.
Beyond public advertising, the campaign works directly on the frontlines of gun sales by partnering with licensed firearm retailers. Retailers are given educational materials and training to help staff spot warning signs and identify potential straw buyers before a sale occurs.
“You’ll go to any gun shop, and they’ll have our materials,” said Joe Bartozzi, President and CEO of the NSSF. “The success is the momentum. Building that knowledge, building that momentum about keeping guns out of the wrong hands.”
A Boost for Local Law Enforcement
For local police officers working the streets, cracking down on the flow of illegal weapons is essential to curbing violent crime. Chief Tanya Terry of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department emphasized that regional campaigns like this directly support local policing.
“We are certainly able to more effectively identify, locate and take those illegal firearms out of our neighborhoods and arrest and hold accountable violent offenders,” Terry said.
The “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” campaign is funded by the firearm industry and complemented by congressional funding allocated to the ATF. The public awareness drive will run through the end of September.
