Wyden, Colleagues Call for Closing Terrorist Gun Loophole

Statement

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined colleagues today calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan to quickly schedule votes on legislation that would close an egregious loophole and prevent individuals on the Federal Terrorist Watchlist from being able to purchase firearms and explosives that may be used in connection with terrorism.

Under current law, a member of a terrorist organization is not prohibited from "possessing firearms or explosives" or from being able to purchase handguns or assault-style rifles. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that between 2004 and 2014, suspected terrorists attempted to exploit this loophole and purchase guns at least 2,233 times, succeeding in 2,043 of those instances, or 91 percent of the time. The letter supporting the legislation, which is already sponsored in the House of Representatives by leading Republican Representative Peter King, comes after the Republican frontrunner for President, Donald Trump, said that anyone on a terror watchlist should "absolutely" not be allowed to purchase a gun.

Specifically, the "Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015", empowers the U.S. Attorney General to deny the transfer of firearms or the issuance of firearms and explosives licenses to suspected terrorists if it is reasonably believed those individuals may use firearms or explosives in connection with an act of terrorism, all while protecting legitimate gun owners' rights to acquire guns or explosives.

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