May 12, 2011
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted down an amendment to the Patriot Act, offered by Rep. Mike Quigley (Ill.-10), to close the "Terror Gap" by giving the Attorney General authority to prevent gun sales to known or suspected terrorists. The Committee voted 21-11 against the Quigley Amendment on a party-line vote. Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued this statement in response to the Committee's action:
"On the day after two suspected terrorists seeking to buy guns and explosives were arrested in New York City, the House Judiciary Committee, incredibly, voted against an amendment to give the Attorney General the authority to prevent known or suspected terrorists from buying guns. Since 2004, over 1,300 persons on the terrorist watch list have been allowed to purchase firearms or explosives because federal law is so weak that being a known or suspected terrorist is not itself sufficient to prohibit someone from buying guns. The Quigley Amendment would have closed this dangerous 'Terror Gap."
Osama bin Laden is dead, but the war on terror is far from over. How can the Congress pretend to be serious about protecting the nation from terrorism, while voting to allow known terrorists to buy guns? The shadow of the gun lobby falls heavily over this disgraceful vote. Is there now a 'gun exception' to the war on terror?"
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The Brady Campaign is the nation's largest citizens' lobby to prevent gun violence. We represent the voice of the overwhelming majority of Americans who are tired of living with the constant tragedy of gun violence and are in favor of strong laws and policies that will save lives. We are the light that exposes politicians who are putting the American people at risk, empowering the American people to hold them accountable for decisions and actions that undermine public safety.
We are driven by the focused vision of a nation where all Americans are safe at home, at work, at school, and in our communities.
Dan Gross is the President of the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. A photo and more information about Dan Gross is available here.
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