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Philly’s flow of illegal guns | Morning Newsletter

And a $1 million wage theft case

Handguns, including models like the Sig Sauer P226, were the most frequently straw-purchased type of firearm guns in The Inquirer’s review. Gun Models Clockwise from top left: Smith and Wesson M&PQ Shield Semi 9mm Taurus G3C Semi 9mm Sig Sauer P320C 9mm Taurus G3C Semi 9mm (2 in One Square) Glock 40 Semi GEN4 10MM, top, and Glock 19, Gen 5, Semi-Automatic 9mm, bottom Smith and Wesson M&PQ Shield Semi 9mm Glock 40 Semi GEN4 10MM Smith and Wesson M&PQ Shield Semi 9mm Taurus G3C Semi 9mm
Handguns, including models like the Sig Sauer P226, were the most frequently straw-purchased type of firearm guns in The Inquirer’s review. Gun Models Clockwise from top left: Smith and Wesson M&PQ Shield Semi 9mm Taurus G3C Semi 9mm Sig Sauer P320C 9mm Taurus G3C Semi 9mm (2 in One Square) Glock 40 Semi GEN4 10MM, top, and Glock 19, Gen 5, Semi-Automatic 9mm, bottom Smith and Wesson M&PQ Shield Semi 9mm Glock 40 Semi GEN4 10MM Smith and Wesson M&PQ Shield Semi 9mm Taurus G3C Semi 9mmRead moreJessica Griffin / Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
    by Taylor Allen
    Published 

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

The rain should return today with a high of 56.

As the number of shootings and homicides have reached record levels over the last several years, law enforcement officials have warned about a major contributor to the flood of illegal guns: straw purchasing. It’s the practice of someone buying a gun and then giving or selling it to someone else who is barred from buying it themselves.

Our lead story explores how straw purchasing can turn firearms —— millions of which are legally sold every year — into crime guns. 🔑

If you see this 🔑 in today’s newsletter, that means we’re highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.

— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

Straw buying makes Philly’s gun problem worse

The Inquirer reviewed more than 135 court cases from the last three years in which people in the Philadelphia region were charged with gun trafficking or straw purchasing.

That review, along with interviews and data analysis, showed that defendants were accused of trying to put nearly 900 guns into circulation. At least a dozen of the weapons were used to commit shootings and murders.

But overall, the defendants in straw buying cases were the rare few who were actually caught.

According to police and prosecutors, an untold number of straw buyers get away with it, partially because of Pennsylvania’s lax gun laws.

Important note: In Pennsylvania, there is no limit to the number of weapons someone can buy, no mandate to report a gun lost or stolen, and no requirement for firearms dealers to flag purchases as suspicious.

Continue reading to learn the story of some of the high-volume purchasers who got charged. 🔑

When you’re done, be sure to learn how other states try to thwart illegal gun sales.

Four years later, where’s the money?

Back in 2019, the owner of two Philly-area sushi restaurants agreed to pay $1 million to settle a federal wage theft case.

That money was supposed to cover $935,000 in back wages and damages to 201 workers — servers, bussers, hibachi chefs, dishwashers — as well as a $65,000 civil penalty to the government.

More than four years later, the former employees haven’t gotten anything. Neither has the federal government.

Continue reading to learn how the federal government has — so far — unsuccessfully tried to collect.

What you should know today

  1. The Pennsylvania Senate approved a ban of supervised injection sites anywhere in the state. The bill must pass the state House before reaching Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.

  2. Sixers’ Joel Embiid is still sidelined with a knee sprain. He did not play in Monday night’s game against the Celtics.

  3. Despite getting an early start on wastewater testing in 2020, Philadelphia is struggling to get a reliable program up and running. 🔑

  4. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Helen Gym for Philadelphia mayor.

  5. Immigration activists banded together to stop a South Philly man from being deported after two decades in the United States.

  6. Bryce Harper is cleared to return and is expected to be in the Phillies lineup Tuesday.

  7. The Mt. Airy babysitting co-op where parents look after each other’s children free of charge is about to turn 50.

  8. Remember to use our guide to Philly’s 2023 Democratic primary for mayor, City Council, and more.

🧠 Trivia time 🧠

Philly’s plastic bag ban went into effect on July 1, 2021.

How many plastic bags have not been used because of the ban?

A) 150 million

B) 175 million

C) 200 million

D) 250 million

Find out if you know the answer.

What we’re...

👀 Watching: Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr sued over her removal from the state’s House floor.

🍺 Sharing: Six riverside bars and restaurants in the Philly-area to get your waterfront fix before the shore season.

📰 Reading: This iconic Cherry Hill Diner served its last meal after 55 years.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram 🧩

Hint: The Beard

ADAHJ ENSREM

We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if you’d like. Cheers to Susan Becker, who correctly guessed Monday’s answer: Kate Winslet. Email us if you know the answer.

Photo of the day

That’s it from me. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning. ☀️