PAGV Supports Legislation to Prohibit Terrorists from Owning or Purchasing Firearms

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., on behalf of the majority of members of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence (PAGV), today announced their strong support for legislation that would require persons on terrorist watch lists to also be prohibited from purchasing firearms or explosives.

“Prosecutors across the nation strongly support this bipartisan effort to keep guns out of terrorists’ hands,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, co-founder and co-chair of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence.  “We applaud the leadership of Senator Feinstein and Representative King and pledge to work closely with them to close the terrorist gun loophole.”

“Prohibiting terrorists from purchasing firearms is exactly the kind of common-sense legislation prosecutors across the country have united to support,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. “We thank Senator Feinstein and Representative King for their work on this bipartisan bill that will protect public safety from coast to coast.”

The Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY), would give the U.S. Attorney General authority to deny the transfer of a firearm or explosive to a person who is a known or suspected terrorist and may use the weapon in connection with terrorism. Under current law, a transfer can be denied only if the recipient is statutorily prohibited from possessing a firearm, which includes users of illegal drugs, domestic abusers and fugitives from justice. Persons on terrorist watch lists are currently prohibited from flying on commercial aircraft.

Founded by District Attorney Vance and City Attorney Feuer in September 2014, PAGV is a nonpartisan coalition of 34 leading prosecutors, from every region of the United States, committed to advancing prosecutorial and policy solutions to the national public health and safety crisis of gun violence.

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