Title: Subject: Firearm and Explosives Background Checks Involving Terrorist Watch List Records

Publication Date: January 2009

What does it say?

This report updates an earlier Government Accountability Office report on background checks and people on the terrorist watch list. 

From February 2004 through February 2009, FBI data show that 963 NICS background checks resulted in valid matches with terrorist watch list records.

Of these matches, approximately 90 percent were allowed to proceed because the checks revealed no prohibiting information and about 10 percent were denied.

How can I use it?

Use the data in this study to advocate for the “Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act.”

Based on a Bush Administration proposal, this legislation would:

· Provide the Attorney General (AG) with discretionary authority to deny the transfer of a firearm or an explosives license or permit when a background check reveals that the purchaser is a known or suspected terrorist and the AG reasonably believes that the person may use a firearm or explosives in connection with terrorism;

· Implement due process safeguards so an affected person would have an opportunity to challenge a denial by the AG; and

· Protect the sensitive information providing the basis for terrorist watch lists.

Citation

Government Accountability Office, Letter to The Honorable John Conyers, Jr., Chairman Committee on the Judiciary House of Representatives, The Honorable Robert C. Scott, Chairman, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, The Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg, United States Senate, Subject: Firearm and Explosives Background Checks Involving Terrorist Watch List Records, May 21, 2009, GAO-09-125R

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