The Blame Game An investigative story about a series of shootings in Hartford, Conn., several years ago prompted a Hartford Courant editorial last week that blames the NRA and calls for the state legislature to take up a bill, which it rightly killed earlier this year, that would make criminals out of law-abiding gun owners if they did not report a firearm stolen within 72 hours. The paper’s readers responded in force to point out the absurdity of the Courant’s position and state the obvious—that only a crackdown on criminals would slow violence in the city. The editorial also cites straw purchases as a problem. One thing the city could do is participate in the Don’t Lie for the Other Guy program, a joint effort of ATF and the firearms industry that raises awareness about the severe penalties for participating in illegal straw purchases.