According to New York city mayor Bloomberg, investigators bought guns in private transactions at an Arizona gun show, despite their having alluded to being unable to pass a background check.
Such sales between individuals are not subject to background checks – but private sellers cannot legally sell to individuals who might not be able to pass background checks otherwise. That makes the seller – and the purchaser – guilty of felonies. Accordingly, anyone party to those illegal purchases (as in the mayor who sent them undercover with the intent to make an illegal purchase) an accessory.
