Congressman Dan Kildee Demands Speaker Ryan Allow Vote on “Common Sense” Legislation to Prevent Suspected Terrorists from Getting Deadly Weapons
June 21, 2016
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today to urge Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (WI-01) not to recess without allowing for a vote on legislation to keep the American people safe and prevent suspected terrorists from buying deadly weapons. Congressman Kildee spoke on the floor calling for an immediate vote on bipartisan legislation, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, which would prevent anyone currently on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Terror Watch List from legally purchasing a weapon.
Congressman Kildee’s floor speech can be viewed here.
“Congress has no greater responsibility than acting to keep the American people safe and that’s why House Democrats, focused on a strong, smart national security plan, have repeatedly made attempts to close a dangerous loophole that allows suspected terrorists to buy deadly weapons, weapons like those that we just saw used in the horrific mass shooting in Orlando,” said Congressman Kildee. “80 percent of Americans – an overwhelming majority – support a law that would prevent people on the FBI’s Terror Watch List from being able to buy guns. For the American people, it is common sense, it is a no-brainer.”
On Monday, the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate voted down several gun safety initiatives, including one introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) seeking to bar suspected terrorists from getting deadly weapons. Speaker Ryan has not taken up similar legislation in the House.
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, in the last 11 years, over 2,000 suspects on the FBI’s Terror Watch List have tried to legally buy guns in the U.S. 91 percent of those terror suspects have succeeded in walking away with a deadly weapon.
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