By Lauren Taylor | Straight Arrow News
Republican senators have introduced a bill that would alert immigration authorities when an immigrant in the U.S. illegally attempts to purchase a gun. Undocumented immigrants are barred from buying guns in the U.S., however, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is not required to alert U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or local law enforcement if a firearm applicant is in America illegally.
The Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act, authored by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and co-sponsored by Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., John Boozman, R-Ark, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., would change the system.
According to Tillis’ office, the FBI’s database of people banned from buying guns currently includes the names of 14.8 million undocumented immigrants.