[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9302]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               TERROR GAP

  (Mr. QUIGLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, shockingly, individuals on the Federal 
terrorist watch list are not excluded from purchasing firearms in the 
United States. Quite simply, this means you can be on a terrorist watch 
list and be prohibited from boarding a plane because we think you are a 
terrorist, but you can buy a semiautomatic weapon.
  Last week, American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn urged the 
terrorist group's followers to exploit this ``terror gap'' in our gun 
laws. Our enemies, intent on destroying Americans and our way of life, 
have made a calculated decision that Congress cares more about 
protecting the gun lobby than it does the safety of its citizens. They 
are convinced we lack the courage and fortitude to close our gaping 
loopholes and that their persistent campaign to strike again on our 
soil has new promise.
  I would love to stand here today and say our enemy has grossly 
underestimated us. I am not certain I can. My colleagues in Congress 
are now faced with a critical opportunity to do the right thing and 
pass the most commonsense of commonsense policies by closing the terror 
gap. Al Qaeda will be watching our response.

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