NSSF Response to New York Times

NSSF has issued a response to the hysterical editorial written by the NYT about the “terrorism loophole”.

No one wants to see terrorists obtain firearms, period. Yet before the Times, or anyone else, considers denying American citizens their Constitutional rights, it’s important to first examine the law enforcement requirements currently in place that enable law enforcement to protect Americans from terrorism.

Anyone attempting to purchase a firearm from a retailer must first undergo an FBI background check. The prospective buyer’s name is also cross-referenced against government watch lists. If there is a match, the law enforcement agency that placed the person on the list is immediately contacted and provided an opportunity to determine any legal basis to deny the transfer of the firearm and to take whatever law enforcement measures they deem appropriate. This includes requesting that the firearms retailer decline to sell the firearm, or to delay the sale so law enforcement can monitor the person. These measures properly balance and respect both national security and the Second Amendment rights of law abiding Americans who might wrongly be on the list.

Remember, the no fly list/terrorist watch list is completely secret, you have no idea if you’re on the list or if you’re not. Sitting US Senators have been on the list, and the guys in New York want to deny people the right to bear arms based on a secret government list.

2 Comments

  1. Remember, the no fly list/terrorist watch list is completely secret, you have no idea if you’re on the list or if you’re not.

    This is only true if you don’t fly. If you fly regularly, you’ll find out if someone with your name on it is on the no-fly list in short order. An uncle in-law has a common first and last name so he’s a false positive. He always got stopped until he figured an alternative spelling that the computers don’t flag.

  2. “Sitting US Senators have been on the list.”

    Sometimes I wonder if there are any greater threats to the US and American freedoms than sitting US senators.

    Maybe it would be appropriate that US Senators be added to the list from the moment that they are elected.

Comments are closed.