Speaker Ryan & House Republicans put party politics ahead of making Americans safer
Today, House Republicans voted for the 12th time to prevent consideration of a bipartisan, commonsense bill to close the loophole that currently allows suspects on the FBI Terror Watchlist to buy firearms.
Following the tragedy in Orlando this weekend, House Democrats continue to focus on tough and smart policies to combat ISIS and help make Americans safer at home and abroad, including by trying to force a vote today on the bill that would close the “No Fly, No Buy” loophole. Unfortunately, House Republicans refused to change course, picking up right where they left off with their 11 votes in December and January to prevent a vote on this critical legislation.
“Speaker Ryan and House Republicans had the chance to take immediate action and vote on closing a dangerous loophole that allows suspected terrorists to legally buy firearms. Instead, House Republicans voted for the twelfth time against even considering this bipartisan bill, showing once again that they do not intend to take steps to keep guns out of the hands of terror suspects,” said Meredith Kelly of the DCCC. “Examples of House Republicans putting partisan politics before keeping Americans safe now number in the dozens, while Democrats continue to fight for tough and smart policies to fight terror.”
House Republicans have repeatedly blocked a vote on Republican Congressman Peter King’s “Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act” (H.R. 1076), thus preserving status quo and protecting suspected terrorists’ ability to legally buy guns in the United States. The bipartisan bill would close the loophole that has been exploited in the past by terror suspects who have legally purchased guns and explosives. Over the past decade, according to federal data, thousands of suspected terrorists on the FBI’s Terrorist Watchlist bought weapons in the United States. Even before the tragedy in San Bernardino, Orlando and other recent terror-related events, the vast majority of Americans, including gun owners, have long supported closing this loophole.