Country First? U.S. Rep. Tom Latham Seriously Just Voted To Protect Terrorists' Access to Guns

Latham's Fealty to the Big Gun Manufactures Hits Disturbing New Low

Washington D.C. - It was a sad display in the U.S. House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday as 27 Republicans including U.S. Rep. Tom Latham (IA-03) voted to reject the mother of all common sense ideas: that we should treat terrorists just like we treat violent criminals, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill by banning those on the terrorist watch list from legally purchasing a gun in the United States.

Shamefully, at the behest of gun manufacturer lobbyists, Latham joined fellow Republicans in a largely party-line vote to defeat an amendment offered by U.S. Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and David Price (D-NC) that would close a glaring hole in the nation's gun safety laws known as the "terror gap" by giving authority to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to block suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and explosives.

As Congresswoman Lowey's office notes: a recent Government accountability Office report found that between February 2004 and February 2010, suspected terrorists tried to purchase guns and explosives 1,453 times. Ninety-one percent of those attempts were successful. *CLICK HERE FOR MORE BACKGROUND ON THE 'TERROR GAP' FROM MAIG

Jeremy Funk, Comm. Dir., Americans United for Change: "The terrorists must be breathing a sigh of relief that they can go right on buying a gun at any Wal-Mart without worry of failing a background check. Congressman Latham's disgraceful action was also a big win for the gun manufacturers that don't care who guns are sold to in America -- no matter how dangerous they are -- as long as a sale is made. Latham apparently can't stand the thought of the gun manufacturers losing any business whatsoever even if it's the worst kind of customer: suspected terrorists.  Latham's fealty to the gun lobby has really gone off the deep end.  Just wait until Latham's constituents hear where he stood: choosing gun profits over national security and public safety."

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CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY:
http://www.cq.com/doc/committees-2013071700309856

Fiscal 2014 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations/Transfer of Firearms

Lowey, D-N.Y. - Amendment that would allow the attorney general to deny transfer of firearms to people suspected of being involved in terrorism. The attorney general would need to have reasonable belief that the person might use the firearm in connection with terrorism.

Rejected 19-29: R 0-27; D 19-2; I 0-0; July 17, 2013.

Vote Key

YEAS (19)

NAYS (29)