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Bloomberg: Close ‘terror gap’ on guns
The Hill ^ | 05/05/10 | Eric Zimmermann

Posted on 05/06/2010 3:06:47 PM PDT by neverdem

New York City officials on Wednesday seized on the attempted terror attack in Times Square to urge Congress to tighten counterterrorism policies.

In testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly called on lawmakers to close a loophole that lets individuals on the federal government’s terrorism watch list buy firearms and explosives.

Bloomberg’s Capitol Hill appearance had been scheduled before last weekend’s failed attack, but the incident, in which Faisal Shahzad is alleged to have tried to detonate a crude car bomb in Times Square, gave the mayor’s cause a new urgency.

“The key element of any smart counterterrorism strategy is to make it harder for terrorists to strike,” Bloomberg said. “And that’s why it’s just common sense to give the FBI the authority to keep terror suspects from buying guns and explosives.”

Because of the so-called “terror gap,” the FBI has no authority to prevent individuals on the watch list from buying guns from licensed U.S. dealers unless they have a separate criminal record. Pointing to last weekend’s attempted bombing, Bloomberg and Kelly said it was imperative that Congress act quickly to change that.

A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that between 2004 and February 2010, suspected terrorists tried to purchase weapons 1,228 times. They were successful in 91 percent of those attempts.

Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) told the panel that the public would not be forgiving if suspected terrorists legally purchased weapons used to kill Americans.

“Just think what the American people would think of us,” King said. “There would be blood on our hands.”

King has introduced legislation in the House to close the loophole. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) has introduced a similar bill in the Senate.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was unsure Wednesday whether the Obama administration would push for legislation to close the loophole.

“I saw Mayor Bloomberg testify to that, and I’ve asked for guidance if we’ve taken a position on that bill or not,” he told reporters.

Despite the timeliness of the hearing, gun-rights supporters said the terrorism watch list should not be used as a gun-control database.

“The problem I have is that [the] watch list, when you look at the numbers, has so many problems with it that I think it’s not appropriate to go down the road that we’re going because a constitutional right is involved,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Bloomberg during questioning.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) strongly opposes the proposed changes, claiming that the terrorism watch list is full of errors. Andrew Arulanandam, NRA’s director of public affairs, pointed to the well-publicized 2004 incident in which the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) was temporarily prevented from boarding a flight because his name was mistakenly on the list.

“There are innocent people who are not terrorists whose names are on the list,” Arulanandam said in an interview. “It is wrong to deny law-abiding people a constitutional right if they are innocent.”

But Bloomberg claimed that national-security concerns take precedence over any Second Amendment arguments.

“Our Founding Fathers did not write the Second Amendment to empower people who wanted to terrorize a free state,” Bloomberg said.

Sam Youngman contributed to this article.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: banglist; bloomberg; fascistpolicestate
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1 posted on 05/06/2010 3:06:47 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: neverdem; All
Earth to Bleedin' Idiot & demogogue:

It was a bomb, not a gun, that was used...

2 posted on 05/06/2010 3:08:13 PM PDT by backhoe (Just an Old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the trakball into America's Twilight...)
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To: neverdem

This dip s**t, the guy is a terrorist, he will find a way to kill us even without a gun.

We wouldn’t have to worry about him buying a gun in this country if he wasn’t here in the first place would we?


3 posted on 05/06/2010 3:11:18 PM PDT by dila813
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To: neverdem

Bloomberg needs to GO, wouldnt surprise me if he & Soros are dining mates.


4 posted on 05/06/2010 3:12:15 PM PDT by conservativesister
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To: neverdem
'Ray Kelly called on lawmakers to close a loophole that lets individuals on the federal government’s terrorism watch list buy firearms and explosives. "

Someone should send a copy of the US Constitution to Misters Kelly & Bloomberg. There are no due process considerations for the terrorists watch-list. That's fine, there is no constitutional right to fly on a plane, really. BUT, there is this little thing called the 2nd Amendment and the 14th Amendment. Constitutional rights CANNOT be suspended absent due process, at least in my America. Bloomberg & Kelly apparently want a different kind of America.

5 posted on 05/06/2010 3:14:41 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
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To: neverdem
“Our Founding Fathers did not write the Second Amendment to empower people who wanted to terrorize a free state,” Bloomberg said.

Bloomers gets one right! How about that! Yes, Bloomie! The Founders wrote the 2nd to guarantee we'd have the means to stop tyrrany, whether it comes from YOU or from terrorists!

6 posted on 05/06/2010 3:15:21 PM PDT by backwoods-engineer ("It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself." --Jefferson)
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To: conservativesister

dining=??????????


7 posted on 05/06/2010 3:16:20 PM PDT by A Strict Constructionist (We are an Oligarchy now and worse if we fail. TeaParty On...)
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To: neverdem

Remind me of all the terrorist attacks using gun-show weapons.

-crickets-

I’ve been to gun shows. Aside from the occassional skin head giving me the “eye,” they’re great. Got a new GLOCK for the glove box Sunday.


8 posted on 05/06/2010 3:16:44 PM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: neverdem

‘Cause guns were the primary threat from this attempt . . . right?


9 posted on 05/06/2010 3:18:22 PM PDT by Sudetenland (Slow to anger but terrible in vengence...such is the character of the American people.)
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To: neverdem

Got to disarm the people ... The progressives know that an armed people are really tough to make into socialist slaves.


10 posted on 05/06/2010 3:19:19 PM PDT by Tarpon ( ...Rude crude socialist Obama depends on ignorance to force his will on people)
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To: neverdem

It’s those damn anti-healthcare nuts, we’ve got to stop them.


11 posted on 05/06/2010 3:19:20 PM PDT by Doc Savage (SOBAMP!)
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To: neverdem

Bloomberg is an asses ass. Denying criminals and terrorist from buying guns legally.. yeah, that’ll stop em.

Surrounded by liberal idiots.


12 posted on 05/06/2010 3:21:09 PM PDT by maddog55 (OBAMA, Why stupid people shouldn't vote.)
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To: wardaddy; Joe Brower; Cannoneer No. 4; Criminal Number 18F; Dan from Michigan; Eaker; Jeff Head; ...
Micro-Stamping on the Move in New York!

Pistol permit applications on the rise in Oswego County (NY)

Suspect’s Gun Proved Easy to Obtain (barf alert!)

Breaking: Obama Administration Removed Faisal Shahzad From Terror Surveilance List Before Attack

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

13 posted on 05/06/2010 3:22:47 PM PDT by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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To: neverdem
There you go again, Mayor Bloom-ing-idiot, using this incident to push your far-left, lib-loon, NAZI-like, Central-Planning, Big-Gubmint, Nanny-State, agenda.

Why not stick to banning trans-fats, cigs and salt?

Or better yet, why not insist our feckless Dept of Homeland [IN]Security do its job and keep its eye on possible terrorist like this Islamo-Fascist who "somehow" evaded scrutiny of the DHS and was able to make 13 trips to Paki-Sthan?

14 posted on 05/06/2010 3:29:33 PM PDT by Conservative Vermont Vet ((One of ONLY 37 Conservatives in the People's Republic of Vermont. Socialists and Progressives All))
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To: backhoe
It was a bomb, not a gun, that was used...

That's OK, that kind of idiocy is pretty much par for the course in that office. I distinctly remember when a tourist from Utah who was in for a tennis tournament was stabbed in the subway...and Dinkass called for more gun control. WTF, over?

15 posted on 05/06/2010 3:34:24 PM PDT by Ancesthntr (Tyrant: "Spartans, lay down your weapons." Free man: "Persian, come and get them!")
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To: neverdem
After the Revolution We Shall repeal All Gun Laws.
16 posted on 05/06/2010 3:34:50 PM PDT by Art in Idaho
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To: OldDeckHand
Someone should send a copy of the US Constitution to Misters Kelly & Bloomberg. There are no due process considerations for the terrorists watch-list.

Exactly. I'd love to see some reporter question either of these two statists about this, but I won't hold my breath.

I'd at least be happier if the Dems would come right out and honestly state, "We want to repeal the Constitution because we don't like its restrictions on government." At least then they'd be HONEST scumsucking traitors.

17 posted on 05/06/2010 3:36:52 PM PDT by Ancesthntr (Tyrant: "Spartans, lay down your weapons." Free man: "Persian, come and get them!")
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To: neverdem

If this were the 1950s, I bet he’d want to make it illegal for all citizens on McCarthy’s list to own a gun.


18 posted on 05/06/2010 3:44:27 PM PDT by Age of Reason
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To: neverdem

FR to Bloomberg: Close (Your) ‘terror gap’ mouth


19 posted on 05/06/2010 3:46:32 PM PDT by STD (islam a spiritual-legal-political Theocratic system of governance which is not to be questioned;)
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To: OldDeckHand
Constitutional rights CANNOT be suspended absent due process, at least in my America. Bloomberg & Kelly apparently want a different kind of America.

I don't doubt it.

This is the same mayor who didn't respect the citizens of New York City, when those citizens voted to limit NYC mayors to two terms.

20 posted on 05/06/2010 3:48:16 PM PDT by Age of Reason
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