It makes no sense that people with known affiliation to terror organizations can be barred from flying on a commercial airliner but can walk into any gun store in the United States and purchase weapons.

The Government Accountability Office found between February 2004 and December 2014, people on the consolidated terrorist watch list attempted to purchase firearms or explosives 2,233 times and successfully cleared a background check 91 percent of the time, according to The Washington Post.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., introduced legislation in February that would give the Department of Justice authority to prevent a known or suspected terrorist from buying firearms or explosives.

It seems a no-brainer. But similar legislation has been stalled for years in Congress. The National Rifle Association announced its opposition, saying there are too many problems with the terror list in the first place.

However, the international terror watch list includes only a tiny percentage of American citizens.

To get on the list, a person must be active in an organization pushing for jihad, or have given money to a terrorist group or actually participated in terrorist activities.

Feinstein’s bill would give the U.S. attorney general the final say in deciding whether to give the terror suspect a weapon and would also give those who have been rejected the right to appeal if they dispute the ruling.

The Department of Justice in 2007 under President George W. Bush unsuccessfully sought similar legislation.

It should stand to reason if you choose to associate with a known terrorist organization or provide funding for that group, you should not be able to buy guns in the United States.

It is bewildering that this isn’t already law.

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