The 30-day Nashville public awareness campaign for the "Don't Lie for the Other Guy" program was officially launched Wednesday with a news conference at the Bass Pro Shops store in Nashville. Speaking at the event were representatives of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. The campaign is part of the ongoing national effort to help prevent illegal "straw" purchases of firearms, reminding the public that stiff penalties are in place for individuals convicted of such purchases.

"The firearms industry is proud of its longstanding cooperative relationship with the ATF and the entire law enforcement community by assisting them in their efforts to combat the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane. Read the NSSF Nashville Campaign press release.

Nashville and Albuquerque were the two cities chosen for this 2015 campaign in consultation with ATF. Public awareness constitutes only part of the Don't Lie for the Other Guy outreach effort. The full Don't Lie for the Other Guy program, which also involves educating firearms retailers to better detect and prevent straw purchases, has been rolled out in many cities throughout the country over the last 12 years.