Cleaver: Letting terrorist suspects buy guns is indefensible

On Wednesday of this week, I, along with 171 of my colleagues, signed a discharge petition to force a vote on common sense, life-saving legislation to keep guns and explosives out of the hands of terrorists. Last week, House Republicans voted three times to block the House from debating H.R. 1076, the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act. We need to bring this critical legislation immediately up for a vote. The bill would close the dangerous loophole that allows suspected terrorists on the FBI’s Terrorist Watchlist to legally buy deadly weapons.

  According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, since 2004, more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI’s Terrorist Watchlist have successfully purchased weapons in the United States. More than 90 percent of all suspected terrorists who attempted to purchase guns in the last 11 years walked away with the weapon they wanted, with just 190 rejected despite their ominous histories. The refusal to close the loophole that lets suspected terrorists legally buy guns is unconscionable and indefensible. As Members of Congress, our first responsibility is to protect and defend the American people – and that is why we must take urgent and commonsense action to keep deadly firearms and explosives out of the hands of terrorists. In the aftermath of the horrific attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, we must continue to strengthen our efforts to protect the American people. Our first priority should be to close the exceedingly dangerous terrorist gun loophole and ensure that no suspected terrorist can walk into a gun store and legally purchase a deadly weapon.

I will continue to fight for the safety of you, my constituents, during these uncertain times. I wish you a safe and pleasant weekend.