Congressman Zeldin Introduces Bill to Keep Guns Out of Hands of Terror Suspects

U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) introduced legislation this week to grant the attorney general the authority to block the sale of firearms and explosives to individuals engaged in terrorist activities.

“The federal government must act to protect America, but it must act Constitutionally,” Zeldin said in a statement. “My legislation would help prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms or explosives, while putting in place safeguards to ensure that the rights of law abiding Americans are protected.”

Zeldin went on to say that the terrorist watch list or no-fly list had been found to erroneously include Senator Ted Kennedy, members of Congress, U.S. Marshals, service members and other innocent Americans. “This bill gives the Department of Justice 90 days to review and verify these lists to ensure the removal of individuals who should have never been added in the first place,” he said.

Zeldin said other proposals treat Americans as guilty until proven innocent and deny due process protections.

“If this issue is about good policy, and not about good politics, than those members must take the right next step and fully endorse this legislation to close the terror gap in U.S. laws,” he continued.

“Following the terror attack in San Bernardino, California, the largest ISIS inspired terrorist attack on American soil ever, we must also focus on improving the visa waiver program, stopping the influx of Syrian refugees due to current vulnerabilities in the vetting process, and defeating ISIS altogether,” Zeldin said. “The greatest humanitarian and security victory for the homeland and abroad is to wipe ISIS off the face of the earth. There is no better way to protect the innocent as well as our own freedoms and liberties.”