James Warren, the long-time Chicago Tribune columnist who now writes for the Chicago News Cooperative (published locally in the New York Times) notes “there are 18 categories under which the purchase of a gun is prohibited by federal law… But if the government thinks you’re playing footsie with Al Qaeda, that’s different. You can get a gun, but you cannot fly…”
Warren points out a 2007 recommendation from the Justice Department to grant the US Attorney General power to deny purchases to known or suspected terrorists.
“Carrying water for a change is (Ill.) Rep. Mike Quigley,” Warren says. “He tried to close the loophole but got slapped down in May on a 21-11 vote.”
