NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is launching an initiative targeting illegal gun purchases, and the message is simple: "Don't Lie For the Other Guy."

It's a catchy phrase that comes with a warning from law enforcement: buying a gun for somebody else or giving them a gun without proper licensing is a crime.

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"These illegal transactions are a pipeline for these weapons ending up in the hands of criminals," Special Agent Jason Stankiewicz with ATF said.

It's called straw purchasing, and it comes with a strong sentence of up to 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

The ATF Nashville Field Office is teaming up with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District

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