Weekend reporting: sen. Charles Schumer's press conference
U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer announced his support for new legislation to prohibit known or suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and explosives from gun stores at a press conference held Sunday.
The legislation “Denying Firearms and explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015” calls for known or suspected terrorists to be added to the NICS database, which at the moment restrains felons and mentally ill spousal abusers from purchasing guns. Schumer is a co-sponsor of the legislation led by Sen. Diane Feinstein.
Senator Schumer said the reason why such legislation is not already in place was pressure National Rifle Association. The NRA did not respond to a request for information.
“We prohibit felons from buying guns, we prohibit spousal abusers and mentally ill people from buying guns, but we don’t prohibit people on terrorist watch lists from buying guns,” Schumer said.
Schumer presented statistics by the Government Accountability Office showing that 94 percent of the people who were able to purchase guns were on the terrorist watch list, including the no-fly list.
The new legislation will also enable individuals who believe they were incorrectly restricted from purchasing guns to question the denial. Individuals will be able to file a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, which however will have the authority to withhold information if it is deemed threatening to national security.
Schumer’s press conference comes a few days after the arrest of three men in Brooklyn on Feb. 25 for planning to travel overseas to be involved in terrorist activity in collaboration with the Islamic state.
“As the risk of domestic terrorism increases, as the risk of lone wolves importuned by terrorists overseas to do terrorism here increases how can we let them walk into gun stores and buy guns?” Schumer said.
Senator Schumer mentioned FBI Director Coney’s statement that he holds extremist organization searches in every state to highlight the need for measures to restrain terrorist activity in the United States.
NY Post reporter Kathleen Culliton, 29, who attended the press conference for her paper said she is in favor of the new legislation.
“Gun control is a good idea. In my job I see a lot of shootings so I am not a fan,” Culliton said. “I don’t think people can commit acts of terrorism if they don’t have the instruments to commit acts of terror.”
WABC reporter Peter Cinnante, 51, said while he supports the main points of the legislation, he would like to get the side of the NRA and more details on the issue.
“A lot of times the devil is in the details, but our producers will get this information and they’ll research it, and see if there’s any flaws in the legislation,” Cinnante said. “In theory it would help, but I don’t know the real details. But I don’t want a terrorist to be able to buy a gun or explosive, that’s for sure.”
In 2007, President George W. Bush tried to pass similar legislation, which was dismissed after pressure from the NRA.
Attorney General Eric Holder said Obama was also in favor of the legislation in at a Judiciary Committee hearing in 2009.
The legislation “Denying Firearms and explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015” calls for known or suspected terrorists to be added to the NICS database, which at the moment restrains felons and mentally ill spousal abusers from purchasing guns. Schumer is a co-sponsor of the legislation led by Sen. Diane Feinstein.
Senator Schumer said the reason why such legislation is not already in place was pressure National Rifle Association. The NRA did not respond to a request for information.
“We prohibit felons from buying guns, we prohibit spousal abusers and mentally ill people from buying guns, but we don’t prohibit people on terrorist watch lists from buying guns,” Schumer said.
Schumer presented statistics by the Government Accountability Office showing that 94 percent of the people who were able to purchase guns were on the terrorist watch list, including the no-fly list.
The new legislation will also enable individuals who believe they were incorrectly restricted from purchasing guns to question the denial. Individuals will be able to file a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, which however will have the authority to withhold information if it is deemed threatening to national security.
Schumer’s press conference comes a few days after the arrest of three men in Brooklyn on Feb. 25 for planning to travel overseas to be involved in terrorist activity in collaboration with the Islamic state.
“As the risk of domestic terrorism increases, as the risk of lone wolves importuned by terrorists overseas to do terrorism here increases how can we let them walk into gun stores and buy guns?” Schumer said.
Senator Schumer mentioned FBI Director Coney’s statement that he holds extremist organization searches in every state to highlight the need for measures to restrain terrorist activity in the United States.
NY Post reporter Kathleen Culliton, 29, who attended the press conference for her paper said she is in favor of the new legislation.
“Gun control is a good idea. In my job I see a lot of shootings so I am not a fan,” Culliton said. “I don’t think people can commit acts of terrorism if they don’t have the instruments to commit acts of terror.”
WABC reporter Peter Cinnante, 51, said while he supports the main points of the legislation, he would like to get the side of the NRA and more details on the issue.
“A lot of times the devil is in the details, but our producers will get this information and they’ll research it, and see if there’s any flaws in the legislation,” Cinnante said. “In theory it would help, but I don’t know the real details. But I don’t want a terrorist to be able to buy a gun or explosive, that’s for sure.”
In 2007, President George W. Bush tried to pass similar legislation, which was dismissed after pressure from the NRA.
Attorney General Eric Holder said Obama was also in favor of the legislation in at a Judiciary Committee hearing in 2009.