releases: https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-protect-homeland-by-preventing-suspected-terrorists-from-legally-buying-firearms-and-explosives
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-protect-homeland-by-preventing-suspected-terrorists-from-legally-buying-firearms-and-explosives | McCaskill: Protect Homeland by Preventing Suspected Terrorists from Legally Buying Firearms & Explosives | 2015-12-03 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | MO | Claire McCaskill | M001170 | www.mccaskill.senate.gov | legacy | McCaskill: Protect Homeland by Preventing Suspected Terrorists from Legally Buying Firearms & Explosives Senior member of Homeland Security and Armed Services Committees backs amendments to expand background checks for gun sales, and close loopholes that let suspected terrorists legally buy weapons Thursday, December 3, 2015 WASHINGTON Following yesterdays mass shooting in California, and as the U.S. Senate debates how to better protect America from potential terrorist attacks, Senator Claire McCaskilla former prosecutortoday announced her support for proposals to strengthen background checks for gun sales, and close loopholes that allow suspected terrorists to legally purchase weapons and firearms. If were serious about protecting our communities and our homeland against the kind of savage attacks we have seen in recent months, then that effort has to include better background checks, and preventing suspected terrorists from legally getting their hands on firearms and explosives, said McCaskill, a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security and Armed Services Committees. Why on earth would we let a suspected terrorist legally buy an assault weapon? An overwhelming majority of AmericansRepublicans and Democratswant these loopholes closed, because they know that will mean better protection for their communities from gun violence, and better protection for our country from terrorist attack. Current law allows guns, including high-capacity guns and assault weapons, to be sold over the internet and at gun shows without any background checks at all.Stores and other Federal Firearms License holders, by contrast, are required to perform background checks on nearly all sales. Current federal law also prohibits nine categories of individuals from purchasing or owning firearmsbut those categories do not include suspected terrorists, who can currently legally purchase firearms in the United States. This loophole allows suspected terrorist to swiftly pass a background check and obtain a dangerous weapon. The Washington Post reports that between 2004 and 2014, more than 2,000 terror suspects legally purchased guns in the United States. As the newspaper reports: Membership in a terrorist organization does not prohibit a person from possessing firearms or explosives under current federal law, the Government Accountability Office concluded in 2010. The law prohibits felons, fugitives, drug addicts and domestic abusers from purchasing a firearm in the U.S. But individuals on the FBI's consolidated terrorist watchlist typically placed there when there is reasonable suspicion that they are a known or suspected terroristcan freely purchase handguns or assault-style rifles. The proposals supported by McCaskill today would address these security lapses by strengthening background checks for gun sales, and would prevent those on terrorist watch lists from purchasing weapons and firearms. Recent national polling has showed that more than half of Americans want tougher laws on gun sales. Among gun owners themselves, 85 percent approve of universal background checks, according to recent polling. McCaskill joined a bipartisan majority of Senators last year in voting to support similar legislation expanding background checks for gun sales as part of the bipartisan Manchin-Toomey background check proposal by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. This background check legislation, which is overwhelmingly supported by the American public, did not receive the 60 votes needed to pass. ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |