Dold, Curbelo lead introduction of bill to prevent sale of firearms to suspected terrorists

Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Bob Dold (R-IL) and Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) would prevent known or suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms.

The bill would give the attorney general the authority to deny firearm sales to those who appear on the no-fly list, and it would establish an appeals process for citizens to challenge the attorney general’s decisions in a U.S. district court.

“Stopping gun violence requires more than moments of silence – we need action,” Dold said. “I’ve been working to keep guns out of the hands of known or suspected terrorists since my first term in Congress. The only way we’re going to actually make progress to keep families safe is through bipartisan action. This bipartisan, bicameral proposal to keep dangerous weapons away from those who wish to do our country harm, while protecting due process, is an important step forward and a bipartisan solution we should all be able to get behind.”

Under the bill, reports on the number of gun purchases that have been denied, the number of petitions filed and the number of instances in which a district court rejected an attorney general’s decision would be submitted to the House Intelligence Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.

Dold opposed a motion last week to adjourn the House of Representatives before bipartisan common ground could be found to reduce gun violence, and he led discussions with legislators from both sides of the aisle.

The bill is the House version of bipartisan legislation that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced in the Senate.

“We must protect Americans from the ever increasing threat of terrorism and violent acts of hatred here at home while we fight radical jihadists overseas,” U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) said. “After the horrific massacre in Orlando, and countless other mass shootings across the country, the American people want answers. Congress must act, at the very least, to ensure individuals on the No-Fly list and ‘selectee’ list cannot purchase a firearm. This legislation does just that and ensures due process for law-abiding citizens. I commend Senator Collins and her bipartisan group of colleagues for their tireless work in building significant consensus on this issue. The bipartisan, bicameral effort to pass this legislation should be a top priority for Congress, and I will not rest until we keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous terrorists while protecting Second Amendment rights for law-abiding Americans who pose no threat to the homeland.”