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Talk to Gun Shop Owner in Kensington, Maryland

Aired October 16, 2002 - 11:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators have been working around the clock looking for patterns and clues in the D.C.-area sniper attacks. One thing we do know is that each of the victims was shot with a single .223 caliber bullet. But there are still questions about exactly what kind of gun the sniper is using.
Our Michael Okwu joins us from a gun shop in Kensignton, Maryland with more from there.

Hi, there Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

This is Potomac Guns and Trading. It's a gun shop in Montgomery County where five victims were shot, so they are very sensitive about this investigation.

Bill Printz, you own this gun shop. Have investigators contacted you? Just moments ago, I heard you on the phone with the ATF, for example?

BILL PRINTZ, GUN SHOP OWNER: Yes, I've talked to ATF and FBI and things and whatnot.

OKWU: Very quickly, what are the sort of things they ask you.

PRINTZ: They are checking on firearms. They're checking on firearms, disposition, things like that and getting copies of paperwork.

OKWU: So, essentially, trying to see whether they can find out where this person might have purchased the gun?

PRINTZ: They are checking everything, trying to enhance their investigation.

OKWU: Understood. As you know, there's been a lot of focus two specific kinds of guns, the AR-15 and the AK-78. There's been a lot of discussion about that. You have those guns here?

PRINTZ: That's correct.

OKWU: Why focus on these kinds of guns? What are their capabilities? Point out guns to me. This is the...

PRINTZ: This is the AK-74. This here is your Colt AR-15.

OKWU: What do these guns do?

PRINTZ: The Colt AR-15 shoots a .223 caliber projectile, actually a .223 cartridge. The AK-74 will shoot either a .30 caliber, and they do make one of these, which are not readily found in a .223.

OKWU: But they are also high-velocity guns, they can have scopes attached to them or not?

PRINTZ: Yes, they can.

OKWU: Now, it's my understanding, and I'm sort of looking at the ammunition. These are .223 caliber?

PRINTZ: That's right.

OKWU: Which are, obviously, the bullets that are being used. It's my understanding that a lot of different guns can obviously fire the .223 projectile.

PRINTZ: Maybe 30 different ones.

OKWU: I see you've got one here. What is this gun?

PRINTZ: This right here is a bolt action in a .223. This is a bolt action .223. And something significant about it is the fact, when you fire it, and put the next shell in, you have to go like that, work the action. Otherwise, if you fire and don't work the action, the shell doesn't come out.

Whereas on semiautomatics, when you fire it, the spent projectile or the spent cartridge will actually come out of the firearm inject out onto the ground, and you have to look for it to pick it up.

OKWU: Obviously, investigators have been talking to you. This a county five people were shot. Are you taking more precautions who you sell your guns to? Are you doing anything differently than you've did before October 2?

PRINTZ: No, we've always taken extreme precautions, checked everything and everybody in every way, mandated also on our own.

OKWU: Now, the governor here is signing an executive order here in Maryland today, where he is banning recreational use of guns for the time being. What's your feeling about that?

PRINTZ: Well, it's going to hurt the Department of Natural Resources. That means nobody will be able to hunt. Right now, people are getting hunting licenses, and that's a lot of income for the state, and with that in mind, this could go for months or who knows how long? And this is for the -- the executive order will be for the duration until the person is caught. Suppose they're not caught in three months, it will still be on.

OKWU: Bill Printz, thank you so much, really appreciate your time.

PRINTZ: Thank you.

OKWU: Fredricka, standing before a couple of the guns investigators believe might be the guns being used in these shootings.

WHITFIELD: Thank you very much, Michael. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 16, 2002 - 11:49   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators have been working around the clock looking for patterns and clues in the D.C.-area sniper attacks. One thing we do know is that each of the victims was shot with a single .223 caliber bullet. But there are still questions about exactly what kind of gun the sniper is using.
Our Michael Okwu joins us from a gun shop in Kensignton, Maryland with more from there.

Hi, there Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

This is Potomac Guns and Trading. It's a gun shop in Montgomery County where five victims were shot, so they are very sensitive about this investigation.

Bill Printz, you own this gun shop. Have investigators contacted you? Just moments ago, I heard you on the phone with the ATF, for example?

BILL PRINTZ, GUN SHOP OWNER: Yes, I've talked to ATF and FBI and things and whatnot.

OKWU: Very quickly, what are the sort of things they ask you.

PRINTZ: They are checking on firearms. They're checking on firearms, disposition, things like that and getting copies of paperwork.

OKWU: So, essentially, trying to see whether they can find out where this person might have purchased the gun?

PRINTZ: They are checking everything, trying to enhance their investigation.

OKWU: Understood. As you know, there's been a lot of focus two specific kinds of guns, the AR-15 and the AK-78. There's been a lot of discussion about that. You have those guns here?

PRINTZ: That's correct.

OKWU: Why focus on these kinds of guns? What are their capabilities? Point out guns to me. This is the...

PRINTZ: This is the AK-74. This here is your Colt AR-15.

OKWU: What do these guns do?

PRINTZ: The Colt AR-15 shoots a .223 caliber projectile, actually a .223 cartridge. The AK-74 will shoot either a .30 caliber, and they do make one of these, which are not readily found in a .223.

OKWU: But they are also high-velocity guns, they can have scopes attached to them or not?

PRINTZ: Yes, they can.

OKWU: Now, it's my understanding, and I'm sort of looking at the ammunition. These are .223 caliber?

PRINTZ: That's right.

OKWU: Which are, obviously, the bullets that are being used. It's my understanding that a lot of different guns can obviously fire the .223 projectile.

PRINTZ: Maybe 30 different ones.

OKWU: I see you've got one here. What is this gun?

PRINTZ: This right here is a bolt action in a .223. This is a bolt action .223. And something significant about it is the fact, when you fire it, and put the next shell in, you have to go like that, work the action. Otherwise, if you fire and don't work the action, the shell doesn't come out.

Whereas on semiautomatics, when you fire it, the spent projectile or the spent cartridge will actually come out of the firearm inject out onto the ground, and you have to look for it to pick it up.

OKWU: Obviously, investigators have been talking to you. This a county five people were shot. Are you taking more precautions who you sell your guns to? Are you doing anything differently than you've did before October 2?

PRINTZ: No, we've always taken extreme precautions, checked everything and everybody in every way, mandated also on our own.

OKWU: Now, the governor here is signing an executive order here in Maryland today, where he is banning recreational use of guns for the time being. What's your feeling about that?

PRINTZ: Well, it's going to hurt the Department of Natural Resources. That means nobody will be able to hunt. Right now, people are getting hunting licenses, and that's a lot of income for the state, and with that in mind, this could go for months or who knows how long? And this is for the -- the executive order will be for the duration until the person is caught. Suppose they're not caught in three months, it will still be on.

OKWU: Bill Printz, thank you so much, really appreciate your time.

PRINTZ: Thank you.

OKWU: Fredricka, standing before a couple of the guns investigators believe might be the guns being used in these shootings.

WHITFIELD: Thank you very much, Michael. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com