Leading Law Enforcement Organizations Endorse Bill to Prevent Terrorists from Buying Weapons
For Immediate Release May 19, 2015 Contact: Ashley Schapitl (202) 224-9629
Leading Law Enforcement Organizations Endorse Feinstein Bill to Prevent Terrorists from Buying Weapons
Washington– Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today announced that the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence has endorsed the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act.
The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence is a nonpartisan group of leading national law enforcement organizations, eight of which have endorsed the bill: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, Police Foundation, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, Police Executive Research Forum and National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Chief Jim Johnson of Baltimore County, Maryland is the current chair of the Partnership.
Feinstein released the following statement:
“I’m grateful to the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence for their endorsement of this important bill. Local law enforcement officers are the first to respond in the event of a terrorist attack, and they know full well the dire threat posed by known and suspected terrorists.”
“The fact that we cannot stop individuals on the no-fly list from purchasing guns and explosives in the United States makes it harder for our country’s law enforcement officers to do their jobs to keep us safe.”
“The bill I introduced in February would close this dangerous loophole, which was exploited more than 450 times in 2013 and 2014. If you’re on a terrorist watch list, we should be able to prevent you from passing a background check to purchase guns or explosives or obtain a federal firearms or explosives license or permit.”
“I will continue my work to have this bill considered before the Senate, and appreciate the support of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence.”
The Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act, which was also introduced in the House by Congressman Peter King (R-N.Y.), would:
- Allow the attorney general to deny the purchase or transfer of a firearm or explosive to a known or suspected terrorist if the prospective recipient may use the firearm or explosive in connection with terrorism.
- Maintain protections in current law that allow a person who believes he has been mistakenly prevented from buying a firearm to learn of the reason for the denial, and then to challenge the denial, first administratively with the Department of Justice, and then through a lawsuit against the Justice Department.
- Allow the Justice Department, in any administrative or court proceeding challenging the accuracy of a denied firearm or explosive transfer under the bill, to protect information that, if disclosed, would compromise national security.
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