STATEMENTS: Veterans Capt. Mark Kelly and James Hatch Call On Congress To Close The Terror Gap, Help Keep Guns Out Of The Hands of Terror Suspects

May 5, 2017

May 5, 2017 – Today, the Washington Post reported on the Islamic State’s efforts to urge its members to exploit America’s weak gun laws to commit acts of terrorism. Retired Navy combat veteran and NASA astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly, the Co-Founder of Americans for Responsible Solutions, and retired US Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer James Hatch, who both spoke at the “Nations United for a Safer Future” gun safety summit yesterday in Washington, issued the following statements calling on Congress to close the “terror gap” loophole that lets known or suspected terrorists pass a background check and buy a gun:

Retired Navy Combat Veteran and NASA Astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly:

“In the wake of the violent attacks in San Bernardino and Orlando, it is abundantly clear that we have a dangerous problem in America: it’s too easy for known and suspected terrorists to legally obtain guns and bring terror to our communities. Currently, suspected terrorists are prohibited from boarding a plane, but law enforcement are powerless to prohibit them from buying a gun. This makes absolutely no sense. The overwhelming majority of Americans agree it’s time for Congress to close loopholes in our laws that allow dangerous people to obtain guns without a background check, by purchasing them at gun shows and on the Internet. We know what the extremists who seek to bring terror to our country want to do. The question before Congress is now, who will act first, us or the terrorists?”

Retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, James Hatch: