[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 174 (Wednesday, December 2, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H8873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PROTECT AMERICAN FAMILIES

  (Mr. DEUTCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attacks in Paris reminded us 
that ISIS recruits fighters from across the globe and even here at 
home. Already, the FBI has arrested over 60 Americans connected with 
ISIS.
  The terrorists who attacked Paris got their guns from the black 
market. But here in the United States, even suspected terrorists are 
allowed, under Federal law, to freely and legally buy assault weapons, 
buy guns, and buy explosives.
  The GAO reports that, in the last decade, suspects on the FBI's 
terrorist watch list attempted to buy guns and explosives over 2,200 
times. And guess what; 91 percent of the time they succeeded.
  Now, I know that the gun lobby opposes any effort to toughen 
background checks; but can we not, at the very least, agree that this 
is a matter of national security, that when the FBI has reasonable 
suspicion that someone is connected to terror, we should stop him from 
buying weapons of mass murder?
  To any of my colleagues on the floor today, is there anyone in 
Congress who actually believes that you should be able to buy a gun 
while on the terrorist watch list? Is there anyone in America who 
believes that?
  If you are on the terrorist watch list, you shouldn't buy a gun. Can 
this body please take this meaningful step to protect American 
families. Let's put it to a vote, and let's do it before we leave here 
for the holidays.

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