Who can purchase a gun in US - felon,NO - terrorist, YES

[packman]

Why isn't this mentioned on Fox or brought up in the Repukes debates - or even for that matter, discussed in the halls of Congress or the halls of the states denying entry to refugees?

Time for the USA to look at its own house:




Given France's strict gun laws, the terrorists who attacked Paris on Friday may have turned to black market sources for the weapons they used. But in the United States, known and suspected terrorists are allowed to purchase firearms under federal law.

"Membership in a terrorist organization does not prohibit a person from possessing firearms or explosives under current federal law," the Government Accountability Office concluded in 2010. The law prohibits felons, fugitives, drug addicts and domestic abusers from purchasing a firearm in the United States. But people on the FBI's consolidated terrorist watchlist — typically placed there when there is "reasonable suspicion" that they are a known or suspected terrorist — can freely purchase handguns or assault-style rifles


Article points out that from a 10 yr. period (2004-2014) over 2,000 suspected terrorist attempted to purchase high-power guns and weapons and most succeeded. Attempts to close this exemption is in the works, but is not being acted on with any vigor.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/11/16/why-the-nra-opposed-laws-to-prevent-suspected-terrorists-from-buying-guns/

[jpak]

1. The Gun nuts will sell them anything they want

yup

[Hepburn]

2. Makes perfect sense.........not!

A felony conviction can be for taking something worth $900.00 in value or greater (CA general law) and if someone was 18 when he/she did this, and it was a non-violent crime, cannot have a gun due to a felony. Total bullshit, IMO, and I greatly dislike guns.

I do believe that non-violent crimes should not be subject to the felony exclusion. While I do not like guns, it seems to be very discriminatory re non-violent offenders such as those with drug busts for possession and sale.

[linuxman]

3. wait a second...

You're telling me that people who have been placed on a list, yet have committed no crimes, and in some cases are put on this list erroneously or without and legal basis are not having their rights restricted?

I'm outraged!

If you can't just violate someone's rights without legal due process then just what is becoming of our once great country?

[packman]

12. I Like that line of reasoning just employed

BUT - I would be highly suspicious of a person holding membership in a terrorist organization or expressed views that align with terrorist ideology.

Seems as if a few people who had committed violence with an legally purchased firearm should have had their rights restricted. If someone obviously deranged , expressing a desire to kill or become famous while handling an assault weapon at a gun shop - I , for one, would violate his/her's rights without a second thought.

[Eleanors38]

21. In theory you like it?

[DonP]

4. Yeah! Screw that whole due process crap

Just because it's a secret list, created by Bush/Cheney, with no way to determine if you're on it or how your name got there, and sure it''s riddled with innocent people, is no reason not to use it.

And of course there's no mechanism for removing incorrect names from the list, but hell, as long as it's gun sales let's forget the whole due process legal system.

Now, can someone explain why any progressive Dem would be so in love with a Bush/Cheney "Terrah Watch" list?

Want to bring back the color coded Terrah alert system too?

[Eleanors38]

20. Who knew DU was so fulla Bush/Cheney symps?

[ileus]

5. So why haven't these terrorist been arrested?

Or is the "terrorist" watch list Bullshit?

[bluedigger]

6. Every terrorist is a potential law abiding gun owner until they aren't. n/t

[packman]

9. Amen - every gun owner is a law abiding citizen until they aren't

[Eleanors38]

15. Every human being is a "law abiding citizen" until they aren't.

[Dr. Strange]

7. You know how to fix that?

Put the terrorists in jail.

[Initech]

8. We could also start branding the NRA as terrorists.

And their enablers in Congress and start throwing them in jail, but, as George Carlin once said, we don't have time for rational solutions!

[branford]

11. YOU can call the NRA or anyone else anything you want.

However, if the government tries to limit the speech and lobbying of the NRA, no less arrests them or their congressional supporters, all that will result is tremendous civil judgments awarded to the NRA for unequivocal breaches of their constitutional rights, money that will be used for additional gun rights lobbying, as well as a massive surge in NRA membership.

Ridiculous comments like some here demonstrate a shocking ignorance of constitutional rights and remedies, a tyrannical disposition, and a failure to appreciate how broad and deep support for gun rights is in much of our country. There's a reason why people call gun control Democrats the best gun salesmen in the firearm industry.

Moreover, the OP's contention that "in the United States, known and suspected terrorists are allowed to purchase firearms under federal law" is only partially true and quite misleading. Anyone actually convicted of terrorism or related charges most certainly cannot own or purchase a firearm. More importantly, we are a nation of laws and due process, and we do not lose constitutional rights because some government bureaucrat puts a name on a secret list. Progressives, including most here on DU, object to these lists for issues like flying as blatant violations of civil rights, yet somehow throw reason and long-standing liberal ideology out the window when the issue concerns firearms, even if, unlike flying, they are constitutionally protected. The hypocrisy is truly astounding and disappointing.

[Eleanors38]

19. I think some on DU are more committed to the rule of humor than of Constitutional law.

Beyond some hat & cane tries to emulate late-night comics, there appears little else.

[Dr. Strange]

17. Personally, I would start with Nickelback.

I'm all for freedom of speech, but you can't tell me the founding fathers could have expected the first amendment to allow for music such as Nickelback's! Inconceivable!

[Initech]

22. Yes! That and Justin Beiber!

[Lizzie Poppet]

10. So there's "reasonable suspicion" that over 1.5 MILLION people are terrorists?

That's how big the watch list is...and I have to say that that number makes me suspect that the primary criterion for being a "suspected terrorist" is appearing to be of Middle Eastern origin.

[packman]

13. You forgot about the group of white men

who are our own home-brewed terrorist - and all with the legal right to own a gun

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[Lizzie Poppet]

14. I "forgot about" something completely tangential to my post?

Imagine that...

[Eleanors38]

18. So was the Deacons for Defense a "home-brewed terrorist group..."

...in the eyes of the white power structure in Louisiana? I means the power structure is the outfit which makes the rules for who is on a list . Or who isn't.

Are there any more Constitutional rights you wanna violate?

[Eleanors38]

16. Gun control: The issue which gives liberals permission to trash the 5th Amendment.

As well as the 2nd.

Terrorist Watch Lists:

What could go wrong?

[beevul]

23. "Given frances strict gun laws..."

Given France's strict gun laws, the terrorists who attacked Paris on Friday may have turned to black market sources for the weapons they used. But in the United States, known and suspected terrorists are allowed to purchase firearms under federal law.

And yet it still isn't enough to satisfy the appetites of the anti-gun folks:

"The EU will publish a TOTAL semi-auto rifle ban proposal tomorrow "

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172181654

[Straw Man]

24. Gotta love the irony ...

... of "progressives" cheering for the Bush watchlists. Can you say lettres de cachet? I knew that you could.

Screw due process, right? Just call someone a terrorist, and you can suspend his/her rights with impunity.