Silence On A ‘Terror Gap’
Sen. John McCain portrays himself as a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. But does that extend to gun rights for suspected terrorists? His campaign won't say where he stands on a bill to eliminate a gun-control loophole that even the Bush administration wants closed: a gap in federal law that inhibits the government from stopping people on terrorist watch lists from buying guns. The bill was inspired by an official audit covering a five-month period in 2004 which found that, because of the loophole, the Feds had to greenlight 35 out of 44 cases where a gun buyer was on a terrorist watch list. One group opposed to closing the loophole is the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a gun manufacturers' trade association. Until this spring, one of its congressional lobbyists was Randy Scheunemann, now a top McCain campaign adviser on foreign policy.
Last year the Justice Department, with White House approval, sent a bill to Congress that would close the loophole by giving the attorney general power to block gun sales to those who are identified via instant background checks as people on such watch lists. As a safeguard, the Bush bill would allow an alleged terrorist to go to court to challenge a gun ban. But the proposal has made little progress in the face of opposition from gun enthusiasts. Ted Novin, spokesman for the NSSF, says it opposes plugging what supporters of the bill call a "terror gap" because it denies "due process" to gun buyers. "Anyone can be put on this list," he says.
Registration documents filed by Scheunemann's company, Orion Strategies, list the terror-gap bill as one of its specific lobbying objectives, and the registrations listed Scheunemann as a lobbyist until he took a leave. McCain's campaign refused to answer questions about whether the senator supports or opposes the White House plan to close the loophole, and it also declined to say if Scheunemann had ever lobbied McCain on gun-control bills. "Randy Scheunemann is a foreign-policy adviser to Senator McCain, and he is on leave from Orion Strategies. We have no further comment," says Jill Hazelbaker, a campaign spokeswoman.
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Member Comments
Posted By: Mwalimu @ 09/03/2008 12:56:16 AM
Comment: Harley's comments are frightfully incoherent, but Obama offered a fair enough compromise for any once except the fanatics that run the Republican party. Yes, citizens can own guns for purposes such as hunting and self-defense, but we need to put some controls on who can and who cannot get a weapon.
I own a car. In order to drive, I must register my car and get a drivers' license. In order to get a drivers' license I must pass a drivers' test both written and behind-the-wheel. Because I am near-sighted, my license stipulates that I can only drive if I wear glasses. If I wish to drive a truck or commerical vehicle, I must get additional licenses and pass additional tests.
Why is this compromise so unreasonable?
All the Republicans know how to do is to pander to their own fanatical constiuents. They don't care how many lives are lost. As I write this comment, I've noticed on my news creen that 6 people are dead in a shooting rampage in Alger, Washington. How long must this slaughter continue?
Republicans are really not pro-life. Neither is the NRA. If they cared about people rather than guns, they would support Obama's proposal. Only Obama has the courage to tell the people the truth -regardless of what the opinion polls say.
Posted By: HarleyisHere @ 08/29/2008 1:53:58 PM
Comment: Yesterday, these are all things repigs can say, even though his case is totally gay, oh they will CLING to yesterday.
Suddenly, Obama is the man that cares for "WE", McCain's not half the man he used to be. Barack Obama is backed by "WE"
Why he had to be half black I don't and I don't care, but repigs think it's wrong and they long for yesterday.
Please sing along ;)
Posted By: HarleyisHere @ 08/28/2008 4:34:14 PM
Comment: Sen Mc why there was recently a very serious earthquake in California what are your thoughts?
A: Im a POW
Sen Mc a terrible hurricane hit Haiti, any comments?
A Im a POW
Sen Mc for a very long time you were AGAINST OFFSHORE DRILLING, then after receiving 1,580,000.00 you FLOPPED on your "maverick" position, why?
A: Im a POW
Sen Mc you came out very strong for Gruzia, and then we come to find out that a Mr. Schunneman took 800,000.00 for lobbying to you about their interests, can you explain?
A: What's Gruzia, is that a bread or something?
NO it's the REAL NAME of Georgia.
A: Oh, Im a POW!
How many houses do you have
A: Im POW
What kind of car do you drive?
A: Im a POW!
Why did you cheat on and then leave your crippled wife who wait loyally for 5 long years for you?
A: Im a POW
What about the KEATING 5?
A: POW
MY FRIENDA, if I may, 40 years ago, I sucked as a pilot and I got shot down, I had already crashed 5 jet fighters prior to that, so it was NO real surprise. I spent 5 years in prison where i did not have, earthquakes, or hurricanes, or BIG OIL, or 94 million, of 11 houses, or a billionaire wife, or cars, or SENIOR CITIZEN SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TO ROB...
In short, like my height, arms, patients, attention span, and memory, I was a POW, I now suffer from PTSD, or SHELL SHOCK! Even thought I never saw ANY combat, and only had 20hrs of "air combat" time, I am a mess, and I have a HUGE chip on my shoulder for doing 32 propaganda films and embarrassing my father. I know I can WIN a WAR if you'll let me, so vote for me and I'll start a couple of new WARS and see if I can???t finally get one of them WON!