U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Support for Bipartisan Proposal to Keep Guns from Terrorists, Make America Safer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced her support for bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to prevent people who are on No Fly List or the Selectee List from purchasing firearms.

“If all Washington does is agree to disagree, then we have failed to provide the leadership people are demanding to save lives from gun violence. I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation to help close the terror gap, because doing nothing is not an option,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am hopeful that Majority Leader McConnell will allow a vote on this bipartisan legislation and if there is an opportunity to strengthen it, we should seize the opportunity. Congress must act to prevent the easy access of weapons for those that shouldn't have them.”

The bipartisan Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act of 2016 would do the following:

• Give the Attorney General the authority to deny firearms sales to individuals who appear on the No Fly List or the Selectee List. 

• Provide a process for American citizens and legal permanent residents to appeal a denial, and set forth a procedure for protecting classified information during the appeal.

• Protect ongoing FBI counter-terrorism investigations by giving the Attorney General the discretion to allow gun sales to go forward to individuals covered by this Act.

• Include a “look-back” provision that ensures prompt notification to the FBI if a person who has been on the broader Terrorism Screening Database (TSDB) within the past five years purchases a firearm.

Senator Baldwin is a strong supporter of closing the terrorist gun loophole and on Monday, she voted for legislation she cosponsored last year, the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015, introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Senator Baldwin also voted in support of legislation on Monday to close loopholes that allow individuals to purchase firearms at gun shows and on the internet without background checks.