Virginia Senator to Bring Back Expanded Background Check Bill

“It’s coming back,” said Virginia Senator Joe Manchin Tuesday about his bipartisan bill to expand background checks on gun sales, a bill which failed to pass on its first run through the Senate last month. [more]

HOUSTON - Members of the National Rifle Association were assured that they would never have to surrender their firearms. Along with this statement they were told that the fight against government gun control is far [more]

Senate Rejects Expanded Gun Background Checks

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans backed by a small band of rural-state Democrats scuttled the most far-reaching gun control legislation in two decades Wednesday, rejecting tighter background checks for buyers and a ban on assault weapons [more]

Day of Reckoning for Expanded Background Checks

D-Day: Today, consideration of the Manchin-Toomey background check proposal and a myriad other gun amendments, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity clips, will be the main event on Capitol Hill. The outcome of [more]

Deal Reached on Gun Background Check Bill

WASHINGTON - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. announced that they have reached a compromise bill on Wednesday that expands background checks on gun purchases, and possibly paving the way for votes [more]

Both Gun Control Parties Make Public Appeal

WASHINGTON — Two of the loudest voices in the gun debate say it’s up to voters now to make their position known to Congress. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and National Rifle Associate Executive Vice President [more]

••••••

More than 800 Firearm Buyers on Terrorist Watch List Approved to Buy Guns

WASHINGTON – The FBI Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) uses a terrorist watch list along with its other factors for screening potential firearm buyers. An updated report shows that the terrorist watch list contains 400,000 people according to the FBI, but they do not out right deny any application just because a purchasers name is on the list.

In the last five years more that 800 firearm purchasers were approved to buy guns even though their names appear on the terrorist watch list. A report from the associated press mentioned that simply being on the watch list does not automatically disqualify a person from purchasing firearms. Under the Brady Gun Background Check Law, being on the watch list is not part of the nine factors for disqualification, like felony convictions and mental disabilities.

Between February 2004 and February 2009 more than 900 gun background checks with names showing up on the watch list were conducted, and out of the 900 only 98 applications were denied and the rest approved. The List is maintained by the FBI and used by local, state, and federal agencies, it is used as a reference to identify suspected terrorist within the population. This number of approved purchases has raised concerns from gun safety and second amendment advocates, stating the use and significance of having such a list and not properly using it.

Another issue that is met with much debate is the number of names the list contains. Over the past two years, there had been applications filed by at least 830 people who believe they have been listed by mistake. Worse of all, you cannot confirm if you are on the watch list unless you purchase a firearm yourself and go through standard background checks to find out. They also do not disclose how a person's name ends up on the watch list. Been to any rallies lately? It just might get you on the list!