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NewsTelemundo 51 Miami – Noticias LocalesSeptember 3, 2026Miami-Dade

ATF launches 'Don't Lie for the Other Guy' campaign in South Florida to combat straw purchasing

Federal authorities are launching a public awareness campaign in South Florida to warn residents that purchasing a firearm for someone legally prohibited from doing so is a federal crime. The initiative, titled 'Don't Lie for the Other Guy,' aims to curb straw purchasing, a practice often linked to illegal international arms trafficking.

law enforcementfirearmspublic safetyfederal crimetrafficking
Read the full story at Telemundo 51 Miami – Noticias Locales

Why It Matters

Residents who purchase firearms for others face up to 15 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 for participating in straw purchases.

Key Facts

  • Straw purchasing (buying a gun for someone else) is a federal crime.
  • The maximum penalty for a straw purchase is 15 years in federal prison.
  • The maximum fine for a straw purchase is $250,000.
  • Firearms purchased for $13,000 to $15,000 in the U.S. can be resold for up to $60,000 in Mexico.
  • The 'Don't Lie for the Other Guy' campaign has been active for 26 years.
  • The campaign will feature 17 billboards in Palm Beach County.
  • The campaign will include radio and social media advertisements in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
  • Illegal firearms are often trafficked to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico.

Who's Mentioned

organizationBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives“Federal agency leading the campaign”locationMiami-Dade“Target area for campaign messaging”personRobert Cekada“Director of the ATF”personJason Reding Quiñones“U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida”locationPalm Beach“County where 17 billboards will be placed”locationBroward“Target area for campaign messaging”