The Justice Department said Thursday that it backs a Democratic amendment to a department spending bill to keep guns from suspected terrorists.
Press secretary Dena Iverson said Justice supports an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that is expected to get a vote soon.
The department “supports Sen. Feinstein’s amendment to help keep guns out of the hands of individuals believed to be engaged in terrorism,” the statement said. “The amendment gives the Justice Department an important additional tool to prevent the sale of guns to suspected terrorists by licensed firearms dealers while ensuring protection of the department’s operational and investigative sensitivities.”
The agency also said it supports “universal background checks as a necessary tool to prevent suspected terrorists from lawfully obtaining firearms.”
The statement comes after a near 15-hour long filibuster by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and a handful of other senators in an attempt to get Senate Republicans to vote on gun control legislation such as Feinstein’s amendment. While a vote is expected, however, Republicans have opposed Feinstein’s language over fears that it wouldn’t give people due process before their constitutional right to own a gun is voided.
