GOP bill would force immigrants reported to ICE if they illegally try to buy guns

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

REPUBLICAN SENATORS HAVE INTRODUCED A BILL – THAT WOULD ALERT IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES WHEN A IMMIGRANT IN THE U.S. ILLEGALLY  ATTEMPTS TO PURCHASE A GUN.

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE BARRED FROM BUYING GUNS IN THE U.S. BUT THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM IS NOT REQUIRED TO ALERT ICE OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IF A FIREARM APPLICANT IS IN AMERICA ILLEGALLY.

A NEW BILL TITLED THE “ILLEGAL ALIEN NICS ALERT ACT” AUTHORED BY SENATOR TOM COTTON OF ARKANSAS – AND CO-SPONSORED BY SENATORS JONI EARNST, CYNTHIA LUMMIS, JOHN BOOZMAN, AND THOM TILLIS – WOULD CHANGE THAT.

ACCORDING TO TILLIS’ OFFICE – THE FBI’S DATABASE  OF PEOPLE BANNED FROM BUYING GUNS CURRENTLY INCLUDES THE NAMES OF 14.8 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED  IMMIGRANTS. 

UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION – IF ANY OF THOSE NAMES WERE TO POP UP DURING THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING BACKGROUND CHECK TO BUY A GUN — THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO NOTIFY ICE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES. 

SENATOR TILLIS SAID IT’S AGAINST THE LAW FOR THESE PEOPLE TO BUY A FIREARM AND THAT HIS BILL  WOULD NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES WHEN AN THEY TRY TO BREAK THE LAW.

“THOSE WHO COME INTO AMERICA ILLEGALLY SHOULD BE DETAINED AND DEPORTED. THEY CERTAINLY SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A FIREARM.” SENATOR COTTON SAID.

ACCORDING TILLIS, NICS HAS DENIED MORE THAN 49-THOUSAND ATTEMPTED FIREARM PURCHASES BY UNDOCUMENTED  IMMIGRANTS SINCE NOVEMBER 30, 1998. 

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