Robert Aderholt

Robert Aderholt represents the fourth Congressional district in Alabama. (AL.com file)

(Paul Beaudry)

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is explaining why he's against banning people on the federal terrorist watch list from buying guns.

U.S. Rep. Nita Lowry (D-New York) has proposed an amendment to do that to the 2017 funding bill that includes the Justice Department.

It might sound reasonable, Aderholt said in a statement, "but like many liberal solutions, they are only skin deep."

Aderholt said, "The reality is many people find themselves on the terrorist watch list by mistake. Something as simple as a mix up of a birth date can put someone on the list and the process to remove a name can take months or even years."

Besides, Aderholt said, "the vast majority of those who are legitimately on the list and pose a legitimate threat" are not American citizens or lawful permanent residents. That means they can't legally buy guns now.

"My fear is that this is an attempt by Democrats to restrict gun sales to law-abiding citizens under the veil of protecting national security," Aderholt said. "Chipping away at our Second Amendment rights is no way to fight the terrorists who mean us real harm."

Aderholt is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee that funds the Justice Department.