Closing the ‘Terror Gap’ on Gun Purchases

Closing the ‘Terror Gap’ on Gun Purchases
By Kevin Robillard, CQ Staff


It may be hard to imagine that a suspected terrorist can buy a gun in the United States but federal law allows it — and two lawmakers are trying to close that loophole.

A recent Government Accountability Office report found that 963 background checks during gun purchases found applicants matching names on the terrorist watch list and 865, or more than 90 percent, of these purchases were allowed because there was no legal way to stop them. One person on the watch list was able to buy explosives.

“The current law simply defies common sense,” Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg , D-N.J., said in a statement June 22. “This new report is proof positive that known and suspected terrorists are exploiting a major loophole in our law, threatening our families and our communities. This ‘terror gap’ has been open too long, and our national security demands that we shut it down.”

Lautenberg and Rep. Peter T. King of New York, the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, are sponsoring legislation that would authorize the attorney general to prevent such purchases if he believes they will use the firearms in terrorist attacks.

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003155520

It's hilarious to see the same people who were up in arms about the no-fly list screaming "terrah" whenever guns are involved.

The first number I found (via google)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-23-Watchlist_N.htm

755,000 people on Bush's terror watchlist and that was 2 YEARS AGO. It has been growing by qtr million per year so it could easily be above a million now.

Do you think there are a million terrorists in the United States?
If not then you accept there are non-terrorist on the terror watch list.
Do you believe a govt based on rule of law should deny someone a civil right based on a secret list without due process?