Republicans Defend Terrorists Rights To Buy Guns, Explosives
May 19th, 2010 | By Main Contributor | Category: Republicans
New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg expressed outrage over a federal loophole that allows people on the FBI terrorist watch list to legally purchase guns and explosives. Being “known or reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activity” is currently not a reason for someone to be denied purchasing weapons or chemicals that could make bombs.
The Government Accountability Office said that individuals on the terrorist watchlist attempted to purchase potentially legal equipment 1,228 times in the past six years. Background checks were ran on all of these individuals and they were easily identified as being on the terrorist watchlist. Out of the 1,228 potential terrorists that attempted to legally purchase guns and explosives 1,119 of them were allowed to. The statistics show that this is not something that rarely happens. If terrorists are allowed to legally purchase weapons in this country, then it gives them easy access to anything they need to pull off a terrorist attack.
The National Rifle Association and gun lobby are adamantly opposed to the bill that would close this “terror gap,” H.R. 2159. They argue that even though they are potential terrorists, they have a right to purchase weapons and deadly explosives. Republicans are backing the NRA and attempting to block the legislation.
names thought to be used by individuals suspected of planning terrorist activity. No identifying information other than names are included on the list. As such, all individuals whose name matches one allegedly used by an individual suspected of planning terrorist activity would suffer abridgment of their rights, should the list be used as a means for abridging civil liberties. Because the list exists in secret, individuals whose names appear would not know until after suffering an abridgment of their liberty. As the attempt by a “prohibited person” to purchase a firearm is a felony offense, relying upon the “no fly” list as a means of prohibiting firearms purchases would result in many citizens unknowingly and unintentionally committing felony acts due to their inability to ascertain in advance the listing of their name upon a secret and demonstrably erroneous list. Additionally, no established means exists to preemptively appeal entry upon the list; consequently, individuals will experience an abridgment of their civil liberties with no prior warning and with no preemptive means to prevent such abridgment.
Proponents of relying upon the “no fly” list as a means of denying the constitutionally protected liberty of firearms ownership are explicitly advocating and endorsing fascism.
The initial line of my previous comment was inexplicably lost. I apologize for any confusion and I offer an amended comment:
In fact, the “terror watch list” used for denying entry to commercial aircraft is a list of names thought to be used by individuals suspected of planning terrorist activity. No identifying information other than names are included on the list. As such, all individuals whose name matches one allegedly used by an individual suspected of planning terrorist activity would suffer abridgment of their rights, should the list be used as a means for abridging civil liberties. Because the list exists in secret, individuals whose names appear would not know until after suffering an abridgment of their liberty. As the attempt by a “prohibited person” to purchase a firearm is a felony offense, relying upon the “no fly” list as a means of prohibiting firearms purchases would result in many citizens unknowingly and unintentionally committing felony acts due to their inability to ascertain in advance the listing of their name upon a secret and demonstrably erroneous list. Additionally, no established means exists to preemptively appeal entry upon the list; consequently, individuals will experience an abridgment of their civil liberties with no prior warning and with no preemptive means to prevent such abridgment.
Proponents of relying upon the “no fly” list as a means of denying the constitutionally protected liberty of firearms ownership are explicitly advocating and endorsing fascism.