Stop Al-Qaeda From Exploiting Gun Law Loopholes

The Issue

Al Qaeda spokesman and potential Bin Laden successor Adam Gadahn recently released a video urging members to take the “golden opportunity” to exploit U.S. gun laws to buy guns and commit terrorist acts on American soil. By leaving gun law loopholes open, we’re effectively assisting al-Qaeda and exposing Americans to this grave threat. But Congress has the power to close these gun law gaps. That’s why we are calling on Congress to require a background check for every gun sale and ensure that the names of those who should be prohibited from buying guns are entered into the background check system. In al-Qaeda's recent video, U.S.-born member Adam Gadahn announces forcefully, “America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms.” Gadahn promises al-Qaeda's "lone wolves" that they can purchase these deadly weapons “without a background check, and most likely without having to show an identification card” at gun shows. Right now, gaps in our nation’s gun laws allow anyone to buy weapons and ammunition without a background check -- including, for example, semi- automatic rifles and extended magazines. To make matters worse, the background check system has massive gaps. Not everyone who is legally prohibited from buying a gun has been entered into the background check database -- and the “Terror Gap” means that even people on the FBI terrorist watch list can buy guns and explosives without any delay. Ask Congress to close gun law loopholes and the Terror Gap.

avatar of the starter
Everytown for Gun SafetyPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.
This petition had 35,134 supporters

The Issue

Al Qaeda spokesman and potential Bin Laden successor Adam Gadahn recently released a video urging members to take the “golden opportunity” to exploit U.S. gun laws to buy guns and commit terrorist acts on American soil. By leaving gun law loopholes open, we’re effectively assisting al-Qaeda and exposing Americans to this grave threat. But Congress has the power to close these gun law gaps. That’s why we are calling on Congress to require a background check for every gun sale and ensure that the names of those who should be prohibited from buying guns are entered into the background check system. In al-Qaeda's recent video, U.S.-born member Adam Gadahn announces forcefully, “America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms.” Gadahn promises al-Qaeda's "lone wolves" that they can purchase these deadly weapons “without a background check, and most likely without having to show an identification card” at gun shows. Right now, gaps in our nation’s gun laws allow anyone to buy weapons and ammunition without a background check -- including, for example, semi- automatic rifles and extended magazines. To make matters worse, the background check system has massive gaps. Not everyone who is legally prohibited from buying a gun has been entered into the background check database -- and the “Terror Gap” means that even people on the FBI terrorist watch list can buy guns and explosives without any delay. Ask Congress to close gun law loopholes and the Terror Gap.

avatar of the starter
Everytown for Gun SafetyPetition StarterAt <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a> I am Senior Director of Client Services. Before joining the team at <a href="http://Change.org" rel="nofollow">Change.org</a>, I worked as Senior Campaigner at Care2 and for two years I worked as Senior Consultant at M+R Strategic Services. My foray into online organizing began in 2004, when I co-founded Equality Ohio, an LGBT rights organization and a member organization of the national Equality Federation. In my spare time I tend a small flock of chickens in my Oakland backyard.

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Petition created on June 13, 2011