STATEMENT OF MAYORS AGAINST ILLEGAL GUNS CO-CHAIRS ON TESTIMONY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER IN SUPPORT OF COALITION-ENDORSED TERROR GAP LEGISLATION

During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Attorney General Eric Holder stated for the first time the Department of Justice’s support for legislation that gives the FBI power to block gun and explosive sales to terror suspects.

Statement of Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino:

“The Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition, 450 members strong, applauds Attorney General Holder for his support of legislation to give the FBI the power to block gun and explosives sales to terrorists. It makes no sense that the FBI lacks the power to block gun sales to people the federal government has identified as too dangerous to get on a plane. It's time for Congress to act.”

Statement of New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg:

“Since the Bush Administration first urged Congress to pass a law authorizing the FBI to block gun sales to terrorists, there have been two attacks by terror suspects on soldiers here in America: one fatal shooting in Arkansas in June and the terrible attack on Fort Hood this month. The Government Accountability Office has found more than 850 instances when terror suspects succeeded in buying guns and explosives in the last five years. The bi-partisan coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns is encouraged that the Obama administration will press Congress to close this glaring gap in the gun background check system.”