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Lautenberg Controversy Shows Watch List Weakness, notes Gun Law Expert
Washington, DC
Monday, June 22, 2009
"Although Lautenberg probably did not expect it, an anti-gun bill he's sponsoring reveals a crisis for all Americans' civil rights in the whole government watch list program," says gun rights expert John M. Snyder.
"Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey says he wants to deny the right to buy a firearm to anyone who is on the government's terrorist watch list, but a gun may be sold to anyone who does not fall into one of several prohibited categories, and being on the list is not one of them," Snyder continued.
"While media coverage emphasizes that the Lautenberg proposal would enable the attorney general to block gun sales to anyone on the list, it generally fails to inform the public about the nature of the list itself"
Snyder said, "The list itself is a big mystery. To my knowledge, there has not yet been significant information revealed about it. Who is on it? Why? Who puts one on it? How does one get his or her name placed on it? How does one get off it? Can a government official place on it the names of men and women considered unfriendly to the government official? Can a journalist or anyone considered unfriendly to a government official be placed on it? Can this happen without the journalist's knowledge?
"Could one who supports, or opposes, gun rights, be placed on it? Could one who is completing his or her military service be placed on it? Could one who supports, or opposes, abortion, be placed on it? Could one who supports, or opposes, any given legislative program on any issue be placed on it?"
"Lautenberg is opening up to general scrutiny the watch list itself," said Snyder. "As it exists now, its potential for public abuse is incalculable. It's reminiscent of a star chamber. Its current manifestation is absolutely contrary to our American tradition of civil liberty, regardless of the specific political issue involved.
"Rather than give the attorney general the prerogative of placing gun owners or anyone he wants on the watch list, what Congress really needs to do is examine the watch list itself"
A former National Rifle Association magazine editor, Snyder is Public Affairs Director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and Treasurer of the Second Amendment Foundation. Shotgun News recently named him the senior rights activist in Washington.
"Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey says he wants to deny the right to buy a firearm to anyone who is on the government's terrorist watch list, but a gun may be sold to anyone who does not fall into one of several prohibited categories, and being on the list is not one of them," Snyder continued.
"While media coverage emphasizes that the Lautenberg proposal would enable the attorney general to block gun sales to anyone on the list, it generally fails to inform the public about the nature of the list itself"
Snyder said, "The list itself is a big mystery. To my knowledge, there has not yet been significant information revealed about it. Who is on it? Why? Who puts one on it? How does one get his or her name placed on it? How does one get off it? Can a government official place on it the names of men and women considered unfriendly to the government official? Can a journalist or anyone considered unfriendly to a government official be placed on it? Can this happen without the journalist's knowledge?
"Could one who supports, or opposes, gun rights, be placed on it? Could one who is completing his or her military service be placed on it? Could one who supports, or opposes, abortion, be placed on it? Could one who supports, or opposes, any given legislative program on any issue be placed on it?"
"Lautenberg is opening up to general scrutiny the watch list itself," said Snyder. "As it exists now, its potential for public abuse is incalculable. It's reminiscent of a star chamber. Its current manifestation is absolutely contrary to our American tradition of civil liberty, regardless of the specific political issue involved.
"Rather than give the attorney general the prerogative of placing gun owners or anyone he wants on the watch list, what Congress really needs to do is examine the watch list itself"
A former National Rifle Association magazine editor, Snyder is Public Affairs Director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and Treasurer of the Second Amendment Foundation. Shotgun News recently named him the senior rights activist in Washington.
John M. Snyder
Manager
Telum Associates, LLC
Arlington, VA
301-365-3180
