[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H1870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE NO FLY NO BUY ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, last month, the front pages of our 
Nation's newspapers contained chilling headlines: ``Terror Suspects 
Buying Firearms.''
  At least 44 times in a 4-month period, people whom the FBI suspected 
of being members of terrorist groups tried to buy guns. In all but nine 
instances, the purchases were allowed to go through.
  A background check of the would-be buyer found no automatic 
disqualification such as being a felon, an illegal immigrant, or deemed 
mentally defective. There certainly have been many more instances of 
suspected members of terrorist groups trying to buy these guns, but 
since the Justice Department destroys background check records after 
only 24 hours, we will never know.
  So not only are we allowing suspected terrorists to arm themselves, 
we are destroying the records indicating how many guns they actually 
have bought. We are destroying critical intelligence in the war on 
terror, and suspected terrorists are exploiting our pre-9/11 gun laws.
  The question many of my constituents ask me is, ``Why are these 
people allowed to be able to buy guns in the first place?''
  It defies common sense. We are at war. We saw what these terrorists 
are capable of armed with only box cutters purchased at a hardware 
store. Then why do we make it so easy for our enemies to buy firearms 
and ammunition within our own borders?
  Since 9/11, we have adopted a multitude of new laws in the wake of 
the war on terror. Just try to fly out of Reagan National Airport. No 
one is spared from the reach of these new laws. Senior citizens, 
children, and Members of the House have been subjected to routine 
inspection before boarding a commercial flight. It is an inconvenience 
perhaps for some, but if it prevents one terrorist from boarding a 
plane, it is a good law.
  But our gun laws are dangerously out of step with the war on terror. 
The same people who are prevented from boarding a flight can walk into 
a gun store and purchase a hand-held weapon of mass destruction. This 
is absolutely ridiculous.
  Let me set the record straight. I am not out to take away the right 
of any law-abiding citizen from being able to buy a gun.
  We need common-sense gun safety regulations that protect law-abiding 
gun owners, while making it tougher for criminals and terrorists to 
obtain guns. That is why I have introduced a bill that would deny those 
on the Transportation Security Administration's No Fly List from 
purchasing firearms.
  Why the No Fly List? Granted, the No Fly List includes some law-
abiding citizens who are on the list in error. But it is the only 
Federal terrorist watch list with a procedure to get innocent people 
off the list, and the No Fly List is the only watch list to have public 
scrutiny. Other lists without practical application may be just as 
inaccurate but afford no due process to those wrongly listed.
  My bill will ensure that these people incorrectly listed on the No 
Fly will be able to get their names off the list as quickly as 
possible. They would then be able to complete their gun purchase, no 
questions asked. Again, an inconvenience for some but necessary steps 
to ensure terrorists are not buying guns in our country.
  The Federal Government charged with protecting us from terrorists 
should put at least as much effort into making sure terrorists and 
criminals are buying guns as what senior citizens and children might 
bring aboard a plane. We are at war, and the Federal Government has 
made it easier for our enemies to arm themselves.
  I have written Attorney General Gonzales and asked him to endorse my 
bill. And if he cannot endorse it, I want to know why. I understand the 
Second Amendment concerns of law-abiding citizens and gun owners. But 
these laws can coexist with responsible people's rights to hunt and 
protect their families.
  Responsible gun ownership is a right of all law-abiding Americans, 
but we also have to take the responsibility to protect law-abiding 
Americans from acts of terror and crime.
  Mr. Speaker, we have seen, unfortunately, many, many acts of crime 
and gun violence in the last few weeks. Each week for the next several 
weeks now, I am going to bring this subject up. I know a lot of the 
American people think Democrats have given up on this issue. I promise 
the American people, I will continue with this issue. I will fight for 
good gun safety laws to make this country safer.

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