WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has ordered the FBI to increase scrutiny of suspected terrorists who attempt to purchase guns after discovering that a dozen individuals on the government’s main terrorist watch list have bought firearms in the last eight months, according to officials and documents.
Under the new rules, the FBI will have as long as three days to run additional checks on prospective gun purchasers listed on the Violent Gang and Terrorist Organizations File, a database of more than 10,000 names that includes al-Qaida operatives and other militants, according to a memo this week from Acting Deputy Attorney General Robert McCallum Jr.
McCallum also indicated in the memo to FBI Director Robert Mueller that only one prospective gun purchaser included on the terrorist list had been blocked from buying weapons since March. An FBI official said Friday that 12 other suspects on the terrorist list were allowed to proceed with their purchases because they were not legally prohibited from buying firearms.
The Washington Post reported earlier this week that a new program alerts FBI counterterrorism agents when suspects on its terrorist watch list attempt to buy guns, but that regulations based on Attorney General John Ashcroft’s interpretation of the Brady gun-control law prohibit them from obtaining any substantive details if the transaction is approved.
Justice officials say that the gun-control law does not allow the sharing of information on lawful gun purchases, even if it would allow counterterrorism agents to investigate or try to locate people on the terrorist watch list. The agents are, however, allowed to track purchasers who are blocked from buying guns because of felony convictions, arrest warrants or other criteria. Gun-control advocates argue that Ashcroft’s interpretation endangers the public.
McCallum’s memo does not provide any details about the 12 people listed on the terrorist watch list who were able to purchase weapons legally. But it and a letter from the Justice Department indicate that another suspect on the list tried and failed twice to buy a weapon.
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