[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 29, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S4218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    EXPLOITING GAPS IN U.S. GUN LAWS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I have long sought to bring attention to 
the dangerous gaps in U.S. gun laws, hoping the exposure would lead to 
the passage of commonsense firearm legislation. To those of us who feel 
that Congress can and should play a role in protecting American 
neighborhoods from the scourge of gun violence, enacting laws to ensure 
firearms stay out of the hands of dangerous people seems like a no-
brainer. Unfortunately, the National Rifle Association, despite broad 
support for sensible gun safety laws among Americans across the 
political spectrum, has successfully blocked much-needed legislative 
changes.
  Recently a startling new voice joined the discussion highlighting the 
weaknesses in our gun laws, most notably how we administer firearm 
background checks. Consider the following quote describing the so-
called gun show loophole:

       America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable 
     firearms. You can go down to a gun show at the local 
     convention center and come away with a fully automatic 
     assault rifle without a background check and, most likely, 
     without having to show an identification card.

  While this quote does not break any new ground regarding the dangers 
of the gun show loophole, it is noteworthy because of the person who 
said it. These were not the words of a Member of Congress, advocating 
for legislation, nor were they the words of a spokesperson of groups 
like Mayors Against Illegal Guns or the Brady Campaign. This quote is 
taken from an Internet video message recorded by Adam Gadahn, an 
American-born, confirmed al-Qaida operative.
  In the video, Gadahn speaks to al-Qaida followers and sympathizers, 
describing the ease with which a person can purchase a firearm from a 
private seller without a background check, often with no questions 
asked. In fact, this video is not merely a description of the loopholes 
in U.S. gun laws, it is an exhortation to would-be terrorists to 
exploit these loopholes and kill innocent Americans. To wit, the video 
ends with Gadahn asking his viewers, ``What are you waiting for?''
  This video is a chilling reminder that dangerous loopholes exist in 
U.S. gun laws, weaknesses that terrorists are actively trying to 
exploit. While Gadahn is not entirely accurate--a person cannot 
purchase a ``fully automatic assault'' rifle at a gun show without 
government knowledge--he correctly describes just how simple it is for 
dangerous individuals to acquire deadly weapons in the United States, 
including semi-automatic assault rifles.
  I urge my colleagues to take up and pass two gun safety bills 
introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg: the Gun Show Background Check 
Act, S. 35, which would close the loophole that makes it easy for 
criminals, terrorists and other prohibited buyers to evade background 
checks and buy guns from private citizens at gun shows; and the Denying 
Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act, S. 34, which would 
close the loophole in Federal law that hinders the ability of law 
enforcement to keep firearms out of the hands of terrorists by 
authorizing the Attorney General to deny the sale of a firearm when a 
background check reveals that the prospective purchaser is a known or 
suspected terrorist.
  Congressional action should not require such stark evidence that al-
Qaida and like-minded criminals are trying to use weak U.S. gun laws to 
carry out terrorist attacks against Americans. But the evidence--clear, 
explicit and terrifying--is here nonetheless. The time to act is long 
overdue.

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