Over 90% of People on US Terrorist Watch List Allowed to Buy Arms in 2015

US citizens on the terrorist watch list were able buy weapons in 91 percent of cases, according to the updated US federal data published by Senator Dianne Feinstein.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to CNN, the Government Accountability Office report from March 7 was requested by Feinstein and published originally by her office on May 14. The updated version reveals that the persons on the US terrorist watch list could buy weapons on 223 out of 244 occasions, despite being under the firearm-related background check at the time.

The report for 2015 thus shows that nine out of 10 people involved in the background checks were allowed to purchase firearms. The number corresponds to previous FBI reports, which showed that in the 2004-2015 period individuals on the terrorist watch list involved in firearm or explosives background checks were allowed to buy weapons 2,265 out of 2,477 times, or about 91 percent.

The information is revealed in the wake of the Sunday morning shooting in a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 people killed and least 53 injured. The 29 year-old shooter, identified as US national Omar Mateen, was previously investigated by US law enforcement for possible ties to terrorist organizations.

On Monday, US President Barack Obama said that the Orlando shooting was a reminder of how easy getting a weapon was.