House Republicans reject proposal to ban gun sales to suspected terrorists

A proposal to ban the sale of firearms to individuals on the FBI's terrorist watch list was defeated by House Republicans on Wednesday.

Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and David Price (D-NC) offered an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill that would have given the U.S. Department of Justice authority to block suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and explosives.

"Terrorists are knowingly exploiting our laws," Lowey said, citing American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn.

The amendment was defeated in the House Appropriations Committee by a 19-29 vote.

“Americans expect our government to keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, the mentally ill, and terrorists,” Lowey said in a statement. “A suspected terrorist cannot board a plane but can pass a background check to buy a gun. It is absurd that my Republican colleagues opposed our amendment to close this dangerous gap in our gun safety laws.”

Similar legislation has been proposed -- and defeated -- before. The National Rifle Association claimed in 2011 such proposals were "aimed primarily at law-abiding American gun owners" and "sponsored by gun control extremists."

Watch video, uploaded to YouTube, below:

[Gun rights supporter with flag in business suit via Shutterstock.com]