"In countries like the United States it's perfectly legal for members of the public to own certain types of firearms. If you live in such a country obtain an assault rifle legally, preferably an AK-47 or variations."
-- AL QAEDA TRAINING MANUAL
In the last few weeks, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Congressman Peter King (R-NY) have introduced bills which say that people on the terrorist watch list should not be permitted to buy guns. Most people are shocked when they learn that this common-sense step in fighting terrorism is not already in place.
We welcome and applaud this effort by the Bush Administration and Congress to begin to plug the terrorist loophole in our nation's gun laws, and the gun loophole in our nation's war on terror. Under current law, suspected terrorists who are deemed too dangerous to fly on airplanes, are not classified as too dangerous to buy assault weapons or other guns unless they fall into some other prohibited category. This makes no sense.
In 2001, after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the Brady Center highlighted the danger posed by terrorists and guns in a report, Guns and Terror: How Terrorists Exploit Our Weak Gun Laws. This report documents how terrorists had obtained guns from gun shows, corrupt gun dealers, and other sources. Drawing on President Bush's statement that "We have a responsibility to deny weapons to terrorists and to actively prevent private citizens from providing them," the report called for America to strengthen its gun laws.
S. 1237 and H.R. 2074 are important first steps to prevent terrorists from obtaining guns. The legislation would give the Attorney General, the nation's top law enforcement officer, the discretion to deny gun sales only to those whom he has determined are supporting, engaging in, or preparing for terrorism, and whom he also reasonably believes may use a firearm in connection with terrorism. Any denials of gun sales may be appealed to, and reversed by, a court.
While this legislation has the support of the Bush Administration, elected officials from both parties in Congress, and probably vast majorities of Americans, including gun owners, the leadership of the National Rifle Association has expressed its opposition. Whether this position represents its membership is yet to be seen.
(Note to readers: This blog entry, as well as past blog entries, are co-posted on bradycampaign.org/blog and www.huffingtonpost.com)