Gun Show Loophole Still Not Closed
No Background Checks for Assault Weapons Purchase
By DAVID MUIR and CARMEN PEREZ
April 17, 2010—
It has been three years since Omar Samaha last saw his sister Reema alive. Reema was one of 32 victims whose life was taken in the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech University. This weekend marks the third anniversary.
Images of Reema dancing the weekend before the attacks are still fresh in her family's mind.
"It's nothing you really get over," family member Nina Samaha-Reiten said.
And three years later, Reema's family is also not over the fight; the fight to close what many consider a glaring loophole in Virginia's gun laws.
It is called the gun show "loophole" and as it exists, anyone can buy a gun from a private dealer without a background check.
And early this week, just one day before the third anniversary, three Virginia congressmen, urged their colleagues to reconsider closing the loophole.
Democrats Jim Moran, Bobby Scott and Gerald Conolly sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives asking them to support a bill requiring private sellers to perform background checks on buyers at gun shows.
One year ago ABC News followed Reema's brother Omar to a gun show in Richmond, Va. Within a few minutes of arriving, Omar was able to purchase a glock handgun, the same make of gun used to kill at Virginia Tech.
After one hour at the show, Omar walked away with a handful of guns, all purchased without one single background check.
Watching the entire transaction was former ATF agent Jerry Nunziato.
"There was nothing illegal about their transactions," Nunziato said.
In spite of the congressmen's recent appeal, three years later, those transactions are still perfectly legal. Many gun rights advocates say it should stay that way.
Last May a bill introduced to end the loophole has yet to be heard by committee or brought up for debate.
For Reema Samaha's family the fight continues.