Cherry Hill, NJ - Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today joined members of South Jersey’s law enforcement community in calling for immediate action to close the so-called “terrorist background check loophole.”

The loophole in federal gun laws allows those on the government’s terror watch list to legally obtain deadly firearms. The bipartisan Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act, introduced by Rep. Peter King (NY-02), would close that loophole.

“This is about keeping deadly weapons out of the hands of those who are intent on harming innocent Americans. This is an urgent national security matter,” said Rep. Norcross.

A recent GAO report found that over 2,000 suspected terrorists successfully purchased guns in the past decade. Congressman Norcross was joined by Sheriffs and Police Chiefs from South Jersey who also expressed outrage and disbelief that this loophole exists on the federal level. While serving in the New Jersey Legislature, Norcross joined a similar bipartisan effort to deny weapons to terrorists that was enacted into state law.

“How can someone pledge their allegiance to ISIS and still be allowed to legally buy a firearm in this country? That’s outrageous. We have no greater duty than to protect the people of the United States. We can never be totally certain when or where terror will strike. But we must take common-sense steps to reduce our risks. Taking action to close this loophole is another reasonable step to protect Americans,” said Rep. Norcross.

This week Congressman Norcross will formally petition House Speaker Paul Ryan to delay adjourning Congress and keep representatives in Washington until this urgent national security concern is addressed. Last week Norcross joined over 170 members of Congress who signed a ‘discharge petition’ in the House of Representatives that would force the terror loophole bill to the floor for a vote if signed by the majority of the members.

A member of the House Armed Services Committee and Emerging Threats Subcommittee, Congressman Norcross traveled last month to the Middle East where he received classified national security briefings from military and intelligence leaders.

Following his trip, Rep. Norcross said, “My recent trips to Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have confirmed the grave nature of the threats posed by ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and a host of other extremist organizations intent on committing murder throughout the world. My first responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and we must take prudent, focused steps to do just that.”