Weak U.S. Gun Laws Enable Terrorists to Buy Guns with Ease

Fifteen years ago, Osama bin Laden sent one of his operatives to the United States to buy and bring back two-dozen .50-caliber rifles, a gun that can kill someone from over a mile away and even bring down an airplane. In spite of all the recent efforts to curb terrorism, bin Laden could do the same thing today, because buying and shipping the world’s most powerful sniper rifle is not as difficult as you might think. . . If the power of the .50-caliber rifle amazed Krasniqi, what amazed him even more was how easy it was to buy. Krasniqi allowed a Dutch documentary film crew to accompany him to a gun store in Pennsylvania. "You just have to have a credit card and clear record, and you can go buy as many as you want. No questions asked," says Krasniqi. Was he surprised at how easy it was to get it? "Most of the dealers in Montana and Wyoming don’t even ask you a question. It’s just like a grocery store." And, he says there are a variety of choices for ammunition, which is easy to get as well. "Armor-piercing bullets, tracing bullets," says Krasniqi. "[Ammunition] is easier than the rifles themselves. For the ammunition, you don't have to show a driver’s license or anything." "You can just go into a gun show or a gun store in this country and buy a shell that will pierce armor? A civilian," asks Bradley. "You never did that? You’re an American. You can go to the shows and see for yourself," says Krasniqi. "Ask the experts. They’ll be happy to help you." Joe Vince, a former top official at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said "We are the candy store for guns in the world. And it's easy for people to acquire them here," says Vince, who adds that America is "absolutely" the best place for a terrorist to equip himself with guns. [more]