Bipartisan House Gun Bill Proposed
The legislation would prevent individuals on certain terrorist watch lists from purchasing guns, but with an appeals process for denials.
Three U.S. House Republicans and one Democrat have introduced a bill to prevent some people on terrorist watch lists from purchasing guns, but there would be an appeals process for denials.
“The bill, identical to a proposal Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins offered in the upper chamber, is part of a bipartisan, bicameral attempt to find a legislative compromise on restricting terrorists’ access to guns following the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, this month that left 49 people dead and 53 others injured,” The Hill reported.
The House members leading the charge, says The Hill, are GOP Reps. Carlos Curbelo of Florida, Robert J. Dold of Illinois and Scott Rigell of Virginia, and Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts.
Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii is an original cosponsor of the legislation, called the Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act.
Gabbard said in a press release:
Majorities in both parties agree with the vast majority of the American people—we need to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists. However, we must also ensure that any action we take does not compromise the rights to due process guaranteed to every citizen. There are valid constitutional concerns related to the lack of due process and transparency for those who have mistakenly been placed on the No Fly List and Terror Watch List. This legislation is a bipartisan compromise that will help to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, while protecting our constitutionally-guaranteed civil liberties.
The House and Senate bills come after House Democrats ended a 26-hour sit-in protesting inaction on gun control last week.
