Injured West Webster Firefighter Testifies on Gun Control
By: Maureen McGuire
Updated: March 12, 2013
Ted Scardino is hoping his testimony will convince federal lawmakers to pass the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act. Scardino testified Tuesday in favor of a bi-partisan bill that makes gun trafficking a federal crime. Police say the gunman who shot Scardino and other first responders was a convicted felon who got the weapon illegally, in what's called a straw purchase. Someone else purchased the gun for him, because he would not have passed a background check. Scardino told lawmakers "this incident should never have happened. Putting a gun in a person's hand that cannot legally purchase one must be stopped....the people who facilitate these straw purchases must be held accountable."
The bill would also create tougher penalties for those convicted of making straw purchases. It must still be approved by the full House, and is part of a wide range of gun control measures now being debated in Congress.
