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People on Terrorism Watch List Allowed to Buy Guns, Explosives, June 22, 2009, Washington Post
People named on the government's terrorist watch list have successfully purchased firearms
hundreds of times since 2004 , government investigators reported yesterday. In one case, a
known or suspected terrorist was able to buy more than 50 pounds of explosives, the Government
Accountability Office reported.
U.S. lawmakers requested the audit to show how under federal law, people on the terrorist watch
list can be stopped from boarding airplanes but not from buying guns. Under federal law, licensed
firearms dealers must request an FBI background check for buyers but cannot legally stop purchases
solely because individuals are on the watch list. The study found that people on the list purchased
guns 865 times -- out of 963 attempts -- over a five-year period ending in February.
Those who were denied gun purchases were disqualified for other reasons, such as a felony conviction,
drug violation or being an illegal immigrant. Citing a "terror gap," Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and
Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Robert C. Scott (D-Va.) released the study, and Lautenberg said
he will introduce legislation to give the U.S. attorney general authority to stop the sale of guns or
explosives to terrorists.
"The special interest gun lobby has so twisted our nation's laws that the rights of terrorists are placed
above the safety of everyday Americans," Lautenberg said in a written statement, "The current law
simply defies common sense."
Chris W. Cox, the National Rifle Association's chief lobbyist, said that his group opposes terrorists having
access to firearms, but that many people are placed on the watch list erroneously. The NRA cited a March
2009 Justice Department inspector general report that found about 24,000 of 400,000 individuals on the list
-- or about 6 percent -- were named based on outdated or irrelevant information in FBI files, in some cases
after their cases had been closed.
"Law-abiding Americans should not be treated like terrorists," Cox said in a written statement. "To deny
law-abiding people due process and their Second Amendment rights based on a secret list is not how we
do things in America."
In 2005, the GAO reported that people on the watch list were able to buy weapons in 35 of 44 attempts
between February and June 2004.
People named on the government's terrorist watch list have successfully purchased firearms
hundreds of times since 2004 , government investigators reported yesterday. In one case, a
known or suspected terrorist was able to buy more than 50 pounds of explosives, the Government
Accountability Office reported.
U.S. lawmakers requested the audit to show how under federal law, people on the terrorist watch
list can be stopped from boarding airplanes but not from buying guns. Under federal law, licensed
firearms dealers must request an FBI background check for buyers but cannot legally stop purchases
solely because individuals are on the watch list. The study found that people on the list purchased
guns 865 times -- out of 963 attempts -- over a five-year period ending in February.
Those who were denied gun purchases were disqualified for other reasons, such as a felony conviction,
drug violation or being an illegal immigrant. Citing a "terror gap," Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and
Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Robert C. Scott (D-Va.) released the study, and Lautenberg said
he will introduce legislation to give the U.S. attorney general authority to stop the sale of guns or
explosives to terrorists.
"The special interest gun lobby has so twisted our nation's laws that the rights of terrorists are placed
above the safety of everyday Americans," Lautenberg said in a written statement, "The current law
simply defies common sense."
Chris W. Cox, the National Rifle Association's chief lobbyist, said that his group opposes terrorists having
access to firearms, but that many people are placed on the watch list erroneously. The NRA cited a March
2009 Justice Department inspector general report that found about 24,000 of 400,000 individuals on the list
-- or about 6 percent -- were named based on outdated or irrelevant information in FBI files, in some cases
after their cases had been closed.
"Law-abiding Americans should not be treated like terrorists," Cox said in a written statement. "To deny
law-abiding people due process and their Second Amendment rights based on a secret list is not how we
do things in America."
In 2005, the GAO reported that people on the watch list were able to buy weapons in 35 of 44 attempts
between February and June 2004.
