The NRA says it’s just trying to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to buy guns — even if their names appear on a terror watch list.
The National Rifle Association fired back Wednesday at critics of its opposition to a proposed law banning terror suspects from buying guns in the United States.
“The National Rifle Association wants to prevent terrorists from obtaining any deadly weapon and to suggest otherwise is offensive and wrong,” NRA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker told the Daily News. “It is not surprising that anti-gun politicians and publications are distorting the facts to push a gun control agenda.”
NRA BLOCKS LAW TO STOP SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FROM BUYING GUNS
There was no direct word from the group’s executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre.
The News reported the federal Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act has been stalled for eight years — with proponents blaming the NRA and GOP lawmakers for its failure to pass. A legal loophole allowed more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI’s Terror Watchlist to legally purchase weapons from 2004 and 2014.
Bill sponsor Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) remained pessimistic the bill would pass this year, despite last week’s carnage in Paris.
EDITORIAL: STOP SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FROM GETTING GUNS
In the Senate, a group of Democrats have the so-called “terror gap” in their sights, with plans to reform the visa waiver program, according to Politico.
But activist filmmaker Michael Moore tweeted a call to arms for the bill.
“It’s time for real Americans to stop the NRA,” he posted, adding a photo of Wednesday’s Daily News front page.
Baker said the NRA believes the bill would “deny law-abiding citizens their constitutional right to due process.”
