rssTerrorist Watch List is No Hurdle to Gun Purchases
Monday, June 22, 2009 at 5:22 pm
- 3 Comments
Another day, another damning federal report regarding the ease with which potential criminals can purchase guns in America.
Just days after issuing findings that thousands of guns are being funneled illegally into Mexico, the Government Accountability Office reported that, in the last five years, folks known to be on the FBI’s terrorist watch list have tried to purchase weapons on 963 occasions — and succeeded 865 times.
The reason is simple: There’s no law against it. From the report:
Under current law, there is no basis to automatically prohibit a person from possessing firearms or explosives because they appear on the terrorist watch list. Rather, there must be a disqualifying factor (i.e., prohibiting information) pursuant to federal or state law, such as a felony conviction or illegal immigration status.
Last month, New York Democratic Reps. Carolyn McCarthy and Steve Israel introduced a bill that would prevent those found to be on the Transportation Security Administration’s terrorist no-fly list from buying guns. The powerful gun lobby, however, opposes the concept of keeping Second Amendment rights from suspected terrorists.
3 Comments
Comment posted June 22, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
Yes. A government watch list which unfairly accuses people of being criminals without due process. No one knows the standards by which someone gets on this list, no one can see this list. No one can appeal to why they're on this list. Yet, this can prevent them from flying and even purchases a legal weapon which is their right under the 2nd amendment. In your article you state “potential criminals”. Excuse me? How would you like to be called a “potential criminal”. Are you a potential rapist? A potential child predator? serial killer? etc. What gives government the authority to determine he will be a criminal? This is a very dangerous precedent. It's amazing that this concept of “thought crime” is an acceptable standard to denying someone their rights. Let me remind those who also protest wars, you're on this list as well as potential criminals and for that, don't think this will just limit you from buying guns. Jobs will be next.
Comment posted June 23, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
Constitutional rights should not be denied based on a secret list of “suspects”. The Constitution requires due process. Only an idiot would so deeply trust the government as to give them the power to deny rights in secret.
Comment posted June 23, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
What a blatant LIAR Lautenberg is. Yeah, we really put the “rights” of terrorists above “everyday” Americans! This guy couldn't care LESS about the safety of “everyday” (an elitist term for sure) Americans as he attempts to prevent them from protecting themselves every chance he can get. And what about those 963 “known or suspected terrorists”? I suspect that probably about ONE was an actual terrorist IF that. As for “suspected” terrorists are concerned . . . virtually anyone who didn't vote for Obama probably has “incorrect” political views and therefore has a good chance of eventually appearing on that list anyway . . . it's WORTHLESS !
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