Repeater
Regular Member
Charles Schumer has an idea: direct the U.S. Military to report any person who admits to using 'illegal drugs' to the FBI to prevent all those persons from ever purchasing a gun. Why, it would have stopped Jared Loughner, so it must be a great idea!
Here is his letter:
January 16, 2011
Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Kenneth E. Melson
Acting Director
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
99 New York Ave, NE Mail Stop 5.S-144
Washington, DC 20226
Dear Attorney General Holder and Director Melson:
I write today regarding the tragic events which took place this past Saturday in Tucson, Arizona. I believe that this senseless and savage attack requires a reexamination of whom we allow to purchase firearms.
As you know, current federal law explicitly prohibits the sale or transfer of a firearm to “an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” (18 USC 922(d)(3)). It has been widely reported that the alleged shooter, Jared L. Loughner, was known to be a regular user of illicit drugs. Indeed, in news reports earlier this week, Army officials confirmed that the gunman was prevented from enlisting in the military because he admitted to using marijuana excessively in his interview with a recruiter. Just as this admission barred his entrance to the military, it should also have disqualified him from purchasing a firearm.
I therefore urge you to examine the issued regulations regarding the legal definition of a drug abuser, and clarify them to include situations in which individuals make an admission of illicit drug use to agents of the federal government, such as military recruiters. In addition, we urge the administration to order military recruiters and other agents of the federal government to report such admissions to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in the future.
Had this reporting requirement been in place, Loughner would likely have been prevented from purchasing a firearm. We should fix this reporting loophole so that future tragedies can be prevented.
Thank you for your prompt consideration and attention to this important matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
Clarify the "issued regulations" ?? -- Oh my!
Here is his letter:
January 16, 2011
Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Kenneth E. Melson
Acting Director
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
99 New York Ave, NE Mail Stop 5.S-144
Washington, DC 20226
Dear Attorney General Holder and Director Melson:
I write today regarding the tragic events which took place this past Saturday in Tucson, Arizona. I believe that this senseless and savage attack requires a reexamination of whom we allow to purchase firearms.
As you know, current federal law explicitly prohibits the sale or transfer of a firearm to “an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” (18 USC 922(d)(3)). It has been widely reported that the alleged shooter, Jared L. Loughner, was known to be a regular user of illicit drugs. Indeed, in news reports earlier this week, Army officials confirmed that the gunman was prevented from enlisting in the military because he admitted to using marijuana excessively in his interview with a recruiter. Just as this admission barred his entrance to the military, it should also have disqualified him from purchasing a firearm.
I therefore urge you to examine the issued regulations regarding the legal definition of a drug abuser, and clarify them to include situations in which individuals make an admission of illicit drug use to agents of the federal government, such as military recruiters. In addition, we urge the administration to order military recruiters and other agents of the federal government to report such admissions to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in the future.
Had this reporting requirement been in place, Loughner would likely have been prevented from purchasing a firearm. We should fix this reporting loophole so that future tragedies can be prevented.
Thank you for your prompt consideration and attention to this important matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
Clarify the "issued regulations" ?? -- Oh my!
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