11-21-2015, 12:46 PM
Lawmakers have introduced bills over the years to try to prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and explosives. None, however, have passed because of strong opposition by the gun lobby.
The National Rifle Association which opposed previous bills, argued that the watchlist is too broad because it includes people who are still being investigated by authorities.
The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the terrorist watchlist program completely and calls the watchlisting process "unfair." “The federal government’s watchlist system lacks the kind of narrow, specific criteria and rigorous safeguards that would help protect innocent people from the negative consequences of blacklisting," said Hugh Handeyside, a staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. "Instead, the criteria are overbroad, ensnaring innocents, and the system as a whole is unfair and bloated with no meaningful way to clear one’s name and get off the lists.”
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) introduced a bill in February to give the Department of Justice authority "to prevent a known or suspected terrorist from buying firearms or explosives."
“I’m really concerned that at a time like this that we’re not taking what I think is this basic or fundamental action,” King said. King also pointed out that the bill includes an appeal process for people who don’t believe they should be on the watchlist.
In the wake of recent terror attacks, Feinstein is pushing harder for legislation to ban individuals on the watchlist from legally purchasing guns or explosives.
Ref: http://abcnews.go.com/US/individuals-fbi...d=35264669
The National Rifle Association which opposed previous bills, argued that the watchlist is too broad because it includes people who are still being investigated by authorities.
The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the terrorist watchlist program completely and calls the watchlisting process "unfair." “The federal government’s watchlist system lacks the kind of narrow, specific criteria and rigorous safeguards that would help protect innocent people from the negative consequences of blacklisting," said Hugh Handeyside, a staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. "Instead, the criteria are overbroad, ensnaring innocents, and the system as a whole is unfair and bloated with no meaningful way to clear one’s name and get off the lists.”
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) introduced a bill in February to give the Department of Justice authority "to prevent a known or suspected terrorist from buying firearms or explosives."
“I’m really concerned that at a time like this that we’re not taking what I think is this basic or fundamental action,” King said. King also pointed out that the bill includes an appeal process for people who don’t believe they should be on the watchlist.
In the wake of recent terror attacks, Feinstein is pushing harder for legislation to ban individuals on the watchlist from legally purchasing guns or explosives.
Ref: http://abcnews.go.com/US/individuals-fbi...d=35264669