Terrorist Apprehension Act

WASHINGTON -- In a speech to the Economic Club of Detroit in May 1999, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., committed to speak on the issue of gun crimes each week that the Senate is in session. This is the 161st week he has continued to live up to his pledge; his remarks follow:

Mr. President, earlier this week, an article in the Washington Post highlighted concerns about limits on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's ability to pursue terrorists who try to buy guns. After September 11, 2001, the FBI launched an initiative to notify federal law enforcement officials and other national security officials when suspects on the FBI's terrorist watch list attempt to purchase a firearm. However, according to the Washington Post article, an interpretation of current law by the Attorney General has precluded federal agents from obtaining any details about gun purchase transactions unless the purchaser is identified by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System as a prohibited buyer.

The Post article cited situations in which law enforcement officials have not been able to pursue known terrorists armed with a firearm. According to Washington Post, as many as 21 suspects on the FBI's terrorist watch list have attempted to buy guns since the spring of 2003. According to Justice Department officials cited in the Post article, the rules established by the Attorney General prevent federal officials from sharing information with investigators about legal gun buyers, even if these gun buyers are suspected terrorists.

Law enforcement officials told the Post that the FBI frequently does not know the whereabouts of suspected terrorists on its watch lists. In such cases, learning where a suspected terrorist bought a firearm and what address they provided could be extremely helpful to counter-terrorism investigators.

To assist the FBI in monitoring and apprehending suspected terrorists, Senator Lautenberg introduced the Terrorist Apprehension Act. This bill would require NICS to alert the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and local law enforcement officials anytime an individual on a terrorist watch list attempts to buy a firearm.

I believe this is common sense homeland security legislation, and I hope the Congress will enact it quicky.