Ashcroft’s Stance on Gun Records

Re “Ashcroft Defends U.S. Anti-Terrorism Tactics, Saying That ‘We Are at War,’ ” Dec. 7: Letting gun-ban extremists Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) decide how our nation’s law enforcement branch should enforce gun background checks is as good an idea as letting Osama bin Laden decide our airport security measures. It is appalling that these openly anti-2nd Amendment radicals would use Sept. 11 in their continued efforts to use the FBI instant background check as a national database on lawful firearms owners. Let us not forget that the biggest slaughter of civilians in U.S. history was accomplished at the point of box-cutters.

David J. Armbruster

Oceanside

The FBI wants to investigate gun purchases by suspected terrorists, but Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft says no--gun records are sacred, even for terrorists. In our domestic fight against terrorism, Ashcroft has determined that suspected terrorists have no right to an open trial, no right to a lawyer, not even the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty. But in a dangerous effort to appease the NRA gun lobby, Ashcroft has decided that gun purchase records of suspected terrorists must be kept secret. Ashcroft has handcuffed the FBI’s investigation of terrorists who may be stockpiling arsenals.

Why? Because the gun lobby fears the FBI investigations will demonstrate that weak federal gun laws, like having no requirement for a criminal background check at gun shows, make it easy for terrorists lurking in the U.S. to acquire large quantities of firearms and ammunition. Suspected terrorists in Michigan and Florida have already been convicted of exploiting weak federal gun laws to obtain weapons for terror networks, but Ashcroft’s action threatens to shut down future investigations.

Luis Tolley

Western Director, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun

Violence, Los Angeles