More than a dozen House Democrats have proposed legislation that would change federal law to prevent foreign nationals from buying firearms after entering the United States through the Visa Waiver Program.
The bill is a reaction to the ongoing debate over how to adjust national policies in the wake of the Paris terrorist attack, which stoked fears that Islamic State terrorists might attempt a similar attack in the United States.
Republicans have called for enhanced screening for refugees, but Democrats have said refugees are already properly screened, and that the real issue is access to guns within U.S. borders.
The new bill from Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., would amend the Visa Waiver Program, which allows people from 38 countries to enter the U.S. without a visa. Duckworth and other Democrats argue that foreign nationals who carry visas are already banned from buying guns, and that foreigners without visas should face the same restriction.
Supporters of the bill say federal law used to prevent foreign nationals from buying guns, but that the Department of Justice reinterpreted the law to allow gun purchases for users of the Visa Waiver Program. The point of Duckworth’s bill is to clarify that those using the Visa Waiver Program cannot buy guns while in the U.S.
“For all the focus being placed on the refugee widows and children desperately seeking safety and respite from terrorism, we should be at least as concerned about issues outside of our rigorous refugee resettlement process that terrorists have already exploited to gain easy access to our country,” Duckworth said.
“While I support the Visa Waiver Program, there’s no reason to give unfettered access to deadly weapons to foreign nationals using the program,” she added.
An aide to Duckworth said it’s too early to say whether Republicans will be able to support the proposal, but said Democrats are hopeful this adjustment can find bipartisan support.
Republicans have said they will take steps to improve the security of the Visa Waiver Program, but have not said what specific steps they might take. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said a House task force is examining the program now.
On Monday, the Obama administration made its own changes to the program, including by examining whether applicants have ever traveled to a terrorist safe-haven country, and whether their home countries are sharing information with the U.S. on terrorism.
Obama asked Congress to codify those changes.
Duckworth’s bill is a companion to legislation offered by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who said access to guns within the U.S. is the risk that needs to be mitigated. Both Durbin and Duckworth note that 9/11 co-conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui entered the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program, as did “shoe bomber” Richard Reid.
“It’s time to close this loophole that terrorists could very easily exploit to get guns and use them to kill in this country,” Durbin said.
