Letters

Zeldin’s statement on Orlando shooting; defends Protect America Act

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) issued the following press release Thursday defending his proposed Protect America Act (H.R. 4237). The release included his statement regarding the June 12 mass shooting in Orlando.

The Protect America Act (H.R. 4237):

The Protect America Act, H.R. 4237, will help prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms or explosives while protecting the due process rights of law abiding citizens. Here are five key questions and answers addressing why Congress should pass the Protect America Act:

Should terrorists be allowed to purchase firearms or explosives?

Absolutely not.

Should there be due process protections for law abiding citizens wrongfully placed on the terrorism watch list?

Yes and it is required Constitutionally.

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Should the burden be on the government to demonstrate probable cause to justify denying the purchase or should the burden be on the purchaser to demonstrate that there isn’t probable cause to justify denying the purchase?

As required Constitutionally, the burden should be on the government to demonstrate probable cause to justify denying the purchase beyond the initial 72 hours. Additionally, citizens deserve their right to notice, counsel and a hearing related to the presentation of this evidence justifying the denial of the purchase.

Should the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations have the authority to let the transaction go through to protect an investigation?

Yes.

Should the terrorism watch list be thoroughly reviewed in order to remove all erroneous entries?

Yes. The Protect America Act addresses every one of these critically important points and will help keep Americans safe.”

The Orlando Terrorist Attack:

“The handgun and Sig Sauer rifle used in this terrorist attack did not march itself into the nightclub and discharge itself. There was a shooter who was a radicalized Islamic terrorist pledging allegiance to ISIS, who violently hated the LGBT community and yelled “Allahu Akbar” while killing 49 innocent Americans. There is a whole lot more going on here beyond the gun control debate and attempts to narrow this issue so glaringly is alienating the rest of our country who understand the bigger picture.”