Protect American Families

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attacks in Paris reminded us that ISIS recruits fighters from across the globe and even here at home. Already, the FBI has arrested over 60 Americans connected with ISIS.

The terrorists who attacked Paris got their guns from the black market. But here in the United States, even suspected terrorists are allowed, under Federal law, to freely and legally buy assault weapons, buy guns, and buy explosives.

The GAO reports that, in the last decade, suspects on the FBI's terrorist watch list attempted to buy guns and explosives over 2,200 times. And guess what; 91 percent of the time they succeeded.

Now, I know that the gun lobby opposes any effort to toughen background checks; but can we not, at the very least, agree that this is a matter of national security, that when the FBI has reasonable suspicion that someone is connected to terror, we should stop him from buying weapons of mass murder?

To any of my colleagues on the floor today, is there anyone in Congress who actually believes that you should be able to buy a gun while on the terrorist watch list? Is there anyone in America who believes that?

If you are on the terrorist watch list, you shouldn't buy a gun. Can this body please take this meaningful step to protect American families. Let's put it to a vote, and let's do it before we leave here for the holidays.

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