web1_WB-logo.jpg

Wilkes-Barre still challenging paramedics’ union representation

web1_Casey_Bob_2013_toned.jpg

Senators Toomey, Casey host call-ins on gun control

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey has joined fellow Republican Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, and Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, of North Dakota, in introducing the Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act &#8212; a proposal to prevent individuals who are on the No Fly List from purchasing firearms.</p><p>&#8220;If you have been deemed too dangerous to board an airplane, you should not be able to purchase firearms,&#8221; Toomey said in a news release. &#8220;This important bipartisan legislation advances our shared goal of keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not have them, while safeguarding the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. I hope the Senate will pass this bill soon.&#8221;</p><p>Collins said the bill is based on one simple principle &#8212; if you are considered to be too dangerous to fly on an airplane, you should not be able to buy a firearm.</p><p>&#8220;This bill is a sensible step we can take right now to reform our nation&#8217;s gun laws while protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans,&#8221; Collins said.</p><p>Heitkamp said the bill &#8220;just makes sense.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Our bipartisan bill is a needed compromise that balances supporting Second Amendment rights with keeping guns out of the hands of potential terrorists so we can protect American families,&#8221; Heitkamp said. &#8220;And the bill includes important due process rights for those on the lists to appeal.&#8221; </p><p>Specifically, the Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act would:</p><p>&#8226; Give the Attorney General the authority to deny firearms sales to individuals who appear on the No Fly List or the Selectee List.</p><p>&#8226; Alert the FBI and local law enforcement of any attempted gun purchase by an individual who has been on the watch lists in the last five years.</p><p>&#8226; Any American denied a purchase under this bill would have the opportunity to have his or her case heard before a federal district court judge within 14 days.</p><p>The No Fly List and Selectee List are the narrowest subsets of all of the government&#8217;s terrorism watch lists. These lists include the names of individuals who pose the greatest threat of committing an act of terrorism against aviation, the homeland, or U.S. interests overseas. There are fewer than 3,000 Americans on both lists combined.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL020318Toomey1.CMYK_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Toomey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_TTL020318Toomey1.CMYK_.jpg</photo0><caption0>Toomey </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Toomey helps introduce proposal to keep guns from people barred from flying