Letter to The Honorable Harold Rogers, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, Norm Dicks Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives

Letter

Dear Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Dicks:

As you finalize language for the coming continuing resolution, I write respectfully requesting funding be included to continue the implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (Public Law No. 110-180).

Current law precludes certain individuals, including felons, those adjudicated as "mental defective," illegal aliens, and those under restraining orders, from purchasing or possessing guns. On January 8, 2008, the President signed into law HR 2640, the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007. This legislation authorized funds for states and Indian tribal governments to establish and upgrade information and identification technologies for determining firearms eligibility and to assist the state courts with the improvement of their criminal record sharing systems. In order to ensure that those individuals prohibited from purchasing or possessing guns are not inadvertently allowed to obtain firearms, it is imperative that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) have up-to-date records.

Unfortunately, not all states have provided the necessary records to NICS, and many states do not have the necessary funding to automate criminal history and mental health records. As stated in the findings of H. R. 2640, nearly 21 million criminal records are not accessible by NICS, due in part to a lack of computerized information. Moreover, millions of criminal records are missing critical data, due to processing backlogs. Recent reports however, point to the success of NICS funding in closing this dangerous gap.

The shooting near Tucson, Arizona, which has claimed the lives of six individuals and wounded 14 others, underscores the danger of firearms falling into hands of the mentally disturbed. The NICS system is critical in preventing dangerous individuals like Jared Loughner from acquiring firearms. Therefore, I urge you to include funding for NICS your continuing resolution. While the NICS Improvements Amendments Act is authorized at $325 million, I hope that at a minimum you will continue funding the implementation of this act at its current levels.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Marco De León on Senator Schumer's staff, at 4-6542.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

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