NEW YORK – Everytown for Gun Safety today released a new television ad (available here) calling on Congress to close the Terror Gap that allows suspected terrorists to buy guns. The ad will air in Washington, DC during tonight’s GOP debate on CNN.
“The day after the San Bernardino shooting – the deadliest mass shooting since Sandy Hook – the U.S. Senate blocked a bipartisan bill to close the Terror Gap that makes it easy and legal for suspected terrorists to buy guns,” said Everytown for Gun Safety President John Feinblatt. “It’s time for Congress to put the safety of Americans ahead of gun lobby interests and support common-sense measures that will save lives.”
More information about the Terror Gap:
- The U.S. Senate blocked a bipartisan bill first recommended by President George W. Bush to close the Terror Gap on the day after the San Bernardino mass shooting. A bipartisan House version of the bill has also been introduced.
- Between February 2004 and December 2014, individuals on the terror watch lists attempted to buy guns and explosives through licensed dealers 2,233 times, and succeeded in doing so on 2,043 occasions (91 percent).
- Since 2007, the NRA has actively blocked efforts to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists by opposing legislation that would close the Terror Gap.
- A 2012 survey by Republican pollster Frank Luntz found that 76 percent of gun owners, including 71 percent of NRA members, support closing the Terror Gap.
- Last week Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced that he would take executive action, pending federal government approval, to keep suspected terrorists from buying guns in his state.
Additional information about the Terror Gap and terror incidents is available here.
