Question for LA area members

[saleen]

I'm trying to confirm the rumor that the gun shop that loaned weapons to LAPD during the North Hollywood Shootout was subsequently shut down for illegal transfer of assault weapons related to that day. It seems too incredible to be true, but you know how Kali is when it comes to guns....

Anyway, if anyone can give me a reference to either put the argument down or confirm it, I'd appreciate it very much.

Saleen

[n567]

A previous thread about this topic mentioned that some police officers forged documents that would expidate the sale of assault weapons at that store...

I'll defer to someone more knowledgable on the subject, however...

[retired]

I don't believe that there is any issue over the weapons the LAPD used during the North Hollywood shootout. The forged documents are another issue, another time.

[saleen]

Is the place still open? I mean, if it was individual LEOs forging documents, that wouldn't get the store in a bind would it? Unless of coarse they knew the documents were forged.

I guess I can see how the story would morph with the same shop and seperate incidents over LEOs and assault weapons transfers. Thanks for the information guys.

Saleen

[retired]

Saleen,

This is the only article I could find about B & B sales since the shootout.

Los Angeles Times

February 28, 2001

Gun Stores Probed About Transfer Fees

Author: MATTHEW EBNET; TIMES STAFF WRITER
Metro Desk

Edition: Orange County Edition
Section: Metro
Page: B-5

Index Terms:
OVERCHARGING
INVESTIGATIONS
GUN STORES

Estimated printed pages: 1

Article Text:

Agents from the state attorney general's office seized records from two of California's biggest retail gun stores Tuesday in an investigation of whether customers are being overcharged for private-party gun transfer services, officials said.

Agents searched two locations of B & B Sales, in Westminster and North Hollywood. In California, when private citizens want to sell guns, they must go to licensed gun dealers who broker the transactions. According to law, the dealer must complete background checks on the two parties, then hold the gun for 10 days.

Nathan Barankin, spokesman for state Attorney General Bill Lockyer's office, said B & B Sales regularly overcharges customers for handling firearm transfers and keeps guns for too long. The standard transfer fee is $25.

Lawyers for Robert Kahn, who owns B & B Sales, did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment.

Barankin said the retailer charged $50, including a "storage" fee for holding guns for 12 days. The retailers' two locations were "taking advantage of their monopoly on gun transfers," Barankin said.

Tuesday's search was prompted by complaints from consumers. Late last year, Lockyer's Firearms Division fielded complaints that B & B Sales was overcharging customers. Barankin said undercover agents from the division were involved in the investigation and that Kahn was warned that his practices violated the law but that he failed to change them.

Copyright 2001 Los Angeles Times

[ 06-08-2003, 06:47 PM: Message edited by: retired ]

[Bill R]

quote:

---

Originally posted by saleen:
Is the place still open? I mean, if it was individual LEOs forging documents, that wouldn't get the store in a bind would it?
Saleen

---

saleen, L.A. is a VERY unfriendly place for firearms dealers. There are only something like four dealers left in the city. Several of those are Big 5 stores that don't even sell handguns. I think Turners is the only store left selling handguns in LA. Even at that, they are not allowed to sell small hanguns that are legal in the rest of the state. A J frame Smith for example can't be sold in LA. B&B is not in business any more. They were not closed because of the North Hollywood shootout though.

Old TFL Thread

[ 06-08-2003, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: Bill R ]