Portman votes to deny guns to terrorists
Lead Summary
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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) this week voted for legislation offered by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to prevent terrorists from being able to purchase a firearm. Portman released the following statement:
“I support the Cornyn proposal because it would prevent suspected terrorists from being able to purchase a firearm, while also protecting the rights of innocent, law-abiding citizens by ensuring they receive due process if they are mistakenly placed on a government watch list. Importantly, it not only blocks the sale of the gun, but also authorizes law enforcement to arrest terror suspects and take them off the streets. This part goes beyond the Feinstein amendment.
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“Although the proposal received a majority of votes in the Senate, I'm disappointed that it didn't received the 60 votes necessary to pass. There is a consensus that we should stop suspected terrorists from buying guns, and a consensus that every American should receive due process if they are mistakenly placed on a government watch list. I will continue to work with both sides of the aisle to find a way to accomplish those goals.
“We must also remember that the terror attack targeting the LGBT community in Orlando was inspired by ISIS. We are a nation at war with radical Islamic terrorism. For years, I've called on the president to put in place a comprehensive strategy to defeat this hateful and violent ideology. If we're going to stop ISIS-inspired attacks, I believe we need a three part strategy: a more aggressive military strategy to defeat ISIS and take away their platform to attack, better protection of the homeland—including increased screening for refugees and visa holders—and more effectively addressing the terror threat here in our communities by providing our domestic law enforcement the tools they need, working more closely with the American Muslim community, and providing a more effective counter narrative to the radical Islamists’ hateful extremist message.”
NOTE: Portman voted in favor of the Cornyn proposal and opposed the amendment from Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA). While both proposals are broadly designed to prevent suspected terrorists from being able to purchase a firearm, the Cornyn plan has stronger due process protections for law-abiding citizens and is tougher on terrorism than the Feinstein plan because it allows law enforcement to take terror suspects off the streets rather than just deny the purchase of a gun.
“I support the Cornyn proposal because it would prevent suspected terrorists from being able to purchase a firearm, while also protecting the rights of innocent, law-abiding citizens by ensuring they receive due process if they are mistakenly placed on a government watch list. Importantly, it not only blocks the sale of the gun, but also authorizes law enforcement to arrest terror suspects and take them off the streets. This part goes beyond the Feinstein amendment.
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“Although the proposal received a majority of votes in the Senate, I'm disappointed that it didn't received the 60 votes necessary to pass. There is a consensus that we should stop suspected terrorists from buying guns, and a consensus that every American should receive due process if they are mistakenly placed on a government watch list. I will continue to work with both sides of the aisle to find a way to accomplish those goals.
“We must also remember that the terror attack targeting the LGBT community in Orlando was inspired by ISIS. We are a nation at war with radical Islamic terrorism. For years, I've called on the president to put in place a comprehensive strategy to defeat this hateful and violent ideology. If we're going to stop ISIS-inspired attacks, I believe we need a three part strategy: a more aggressive military strategy to defeat ISIS and take away their platform to attack, better protection of the homeland—including increased screening for refugees and visa holders—and more effectively addressing the terror threat here in our communities by providing our domestic law enforcement the tools they need, working more closely with the American Muslim community, and providing a more effective counter narrative to the radical Islamists’ hateful extremist message.”
NOTE: Portman voted in favor of the Cornyn proposal and opposed the amendment from Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA). While both proposals are broadly designed to prevent suspected terrorists from being able to purchase a firearm, the Cornyn plan has stronger due process protections for law-abiding citizens and is tougher on terrorism than the Feinstein plan because it allows law enforcement to take terror suspects off the streets rather than just deny the purchase of a gun.