With Barack Obama poised to impose new gun restrictions via executive orders, discussion continues regarding the president’s desire to deny those on terrorism watch lists their Second Amendment rights—and not all federal officials agree with him.
“I believe it would be apples and oranges,” said Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin, in testimony Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee. He was responding to a question from Rep. Blake Farenthold on whether it was appropriate that these lists be used outside of what they were designed for.
On Friday, however, Bersin walked back his remarks, likely after a dressing down from superiors. "To be clear, it is the administration's position that Congress should act to make sure no one on a no-fly list is able to buy a gun," he said. "This is a matter of national security and common sense, and it is a position I and the department support."
