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Mr. Bloomberg Goes To Washington To Close Terror Gap
By
Jen Chung
Published May 6, 2010
Modified May 6, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published May 6, 2010
Modified May 6, 2010
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Mayor Bloomberg made his way to Washington D.C. yesterday to demand that Congress close the "terror gap" that allows individuals on the terrorist watch list to buy guns. He said, "Shouldn't FBI agents have the authority to block sales of guns and explosives to those on the terror watchlists -- and deemed too dangerous to fly? I actually believe that they should," and referred to the Times Square car bombing attempt.
Per a GAO report, "FBI data show that individuals on the government's terrorist watch list were involved in firearms or explosives background checks 1,228 times from February 2004 through February 2010. Of those transactions, 1,119, or about 91 percent, 'were allowed to proceed because no prohibiting information was found -- such as felony convictions, illegal immigrant status, or other disqualifying factors,' the GAO's Eileen R. Larence said in prepared testimony."
Bloomberg had words for some of his opponents, "This is not about the Second Amendment. Our founding fathers did not write the Second Amendment to empower people who wanted to terrorize a free state; they wrote it to protect people who could defend 'the security of a free state.' Today, the security of our free state is being tested by terrorists." Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island) also recommended closing the gap as well or else "there would be blood on our hands."
Tagged
car bomb
guns
illegal guns
mayor bloomberg
terror gap
terrorist watch list
Times Square
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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