Pressure Mounting on President, Attorney General Regarding Lack of Prosecutions for NICS Denials

As detailed in a February 21 press release, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) are pressing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department to explain why they have failed to prosecute the vast majority of convicted felons and fugitives from justice who are failing background checks under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

"While we understand that not every denial needs to be prosecuted, every case involving a fugitive from justice or felon in possession of a firearm should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," wrote Graham and Gowdy.

And, on February 22, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary--led by Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.)--sent letters to President Obama and to Attorney General Holder demanding answers on the lack of prosecutions and enforcement of our nation's existing gun laws.  In the letter to the President, the committee noted that, during Obama's administration, "federal firearms prosecutions have fallen to the lowest levels in over a decade."

In a committee press release, Chairman Goodlatte said, "Before the President demands that Congress push through legislation to stifle the rights of law-abiding citizens, he should take care to enforce the laws that are already on the books." 

"We must all be looking for ways to prevent senseless acts of violence and the taking of innocent life but the best place to start would be enforcing the laws that Congress has already enacted," concluded Goodlatte.