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Ad Links Gun Show Loophole to Homeland Security: Terrorist Access Makes Gun Show Background Checks Important to America's Security
Washington, DC—Americans for Gun Safety (AGS) today released an advertisement calling on Congress to require background checks at gun shows and pointing to the connection between the gun show loophole and foreign terrorists operating in the United States.
The ad, which will run several times in Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, notes that while America is fighting terrorism abroad, terrorists operating in this country have bought guns at gun shows in states without a background check.
The ad points to the recent conviction of Ali Boumelhem, a known member of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. On September 10, a federal court in Detroit convicted Boumelhem on a variety of weapons charges relating to guns, gun parts and ammunition that he was shipping to Hezbollah hidden in containers of auto parts. Boumelhem was under surveillance by the FBI and was followed to several Michigan gun shows, where he and his brother bought some of the weapons that were shipped to the terrorists in Beirut. (Michigan gun shows do not require background checks on all gun sales.)
AGS spokesman Matt Bennett said in a statement: "With gun sales at stores and gun shows rising sharply in the wake of the September 11 attacks, Americans need to know that our background check system has a gaping hole that has allowed terrorists and other criminals to get guns with no questions asked. We now have proof that foreign terrorists operating in this country have used the gun show loophole to arm themselves and others. As Congress explores ways to protect our homeland security, we urge them to close the gun show loophole and lock terrorists and other criminals out of America's gun shows."
Americans for Gun Safety is a non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization that supports the rights of individuals to own guns but seeks better laws and better enforcement of existing laws in order to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. The advertisement and further information about the gun show loophole is available on the AGS website: www.americansforgunsafety.com.
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The gun show loophole
What you should know about this dangerous loophole in our laws.
Gun glossary
Find definitions for background checks, gun show loophole, licensed gun dealer, trafficking, and more
Safer gun shows
Of the five states that host the most gun shows, three states—Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California—have made them safer by closing the gun show loophole. more
Standing up for homeland security
AGS ad praises Congressman's stand on gun show background checks, and says terrorist access at gun shows makes the issue urgent. more
95% of all background checks are completed within two hours and most are completed within two minutes. more
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