Statement By SASC Chairman John McCain On Air Force Failing to Report Convicted Service Members to Gun Database

Statement

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the Air Force's review that revealed dozens of cases in which the military failed to properly report convicted criminals to the federal gun background-check database:

"Initial results of the Air Force review of criminal reporting to civilian law enforcement reveal a disturbing lack of compliance and accountability. The fact that the tragic neglect in the case of Devin Kelley was not an isolated incident but rather part of a systemic failure to comply with current policy must be a call to action. The right policy is only as good as its implementation. The Air Force must take corrective actions to ensure compliance with reporting policies and ensure that future neglect does not lead to another tragedy.

"The Senate Armed Services Committee will continue to conduct rigorous oversight of the Air Force investigation and expects a full report on actions that will be taken to correct deficiencies. It is critical that each of the other military services and the Department of Defense as a whole take the steps necessary to ensure that similar mistakes have not occurred and will not occur in the future."

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