Thank
you
for
contacting
me
about
the
recent
tragic
terrorist
attacks.
I
appreciate
your
correspondence
and
hope
that
you
find
this
response
helpful.
In
the
wake
of
recent
ISIS-related
terror
attacks,
I
understand
and
share
the
concerns
many
have
expressed
about
ensuring
that
people
who
pose
a
potential
threat
aren't
coming
into
the
United
States.
My
first
and
foremost
responsibility
as
your
U.S.
Senator
is
to keep our
country
and
the
people
of
Connecticut
safe.
I
firmly
believe
that
we
can
protect
Americans
from
the
threat
of
terrorism
while
still
remaining
faithful
to
core
American
values.
There
are three
major
policies
I'm
supporting
that
I
believe
will
help
ensure
the
safety
of
Connecticut
families.
First,
we
need
to
tighten
the
visa
waiver
program,
which
currently
allows
people
from
38
countries
to
enter
the
United
States without
a
visa for
up
to
90
days.
These
visitors
are
not
subject
to
the
same
rigorous
methodology
we
use
to
screen
other
groups
like
refugees.
Changes
to
this
program
would
increase
scrutiny
of
travelers
from
these
countries
so
that
terrorists
attempting
to
enter
the
country
can
be
detected
and
detained.
Second, we need to ensure that potential terrorists cannot legally buy guns in America. Over the last decade, more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI's terrorist watch list legally bought guns in the United States. This should not be possible. I'm supporting legislation to close this loophole and ensure that those who are suspected of terrorism cannot purchase guns in our country.
Second, we need to ensure that potential terrorists cannot legally buy guns in America. Over the last decade, more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI's terrorist watch list legally bought guns in the United States. This should not be possible. I'm supporting legislation to close this loophole and ensure that those who are suspected of terrorism cannot purchase guns in our country.
Third,
we
need
to
improve
coordination
with
international
law
enforcement
agencies.
We
need
to
increase
our
information
sharing
with
our
allies,
including
European
Union countries,
to
ensure
that
we
are
populating
our
no-fly
and
terror
watch
lists
with
the
most
accurate
and
up-to-date
information
possible.
That's
why
I
introduced
the
bipartisan Judicial
Redress
Act,
which
is
endorsed
by
the
U.S.
Department
of
Justice.
As
we
confront
ongoing
national
security
threats,
we
must
cement
vital
U.S.-EU
law
enforcement
cooperation
and
pass
the
Judicial
Redress
Act
into
law.
It's
important
to
note
that
refugees
-
those
fleeing
terror
and
torture
-
are
subject
to
the
most
rigorous
vetting
and
security
screening
processes
of
any
traveler
to
the
United
States.
Every
refugee
goes
through
a
thorough,
multi-step
vetting
process
that
usually
takes
18-24
months.
It
is
the
most
difficult
way
for
people
to
enter
our
country.
This
process
includes
multiple
security
checks
from
the
United
Nations
High
Commissioner
for
Refugees
and
U.S.
agencies,
including
the
Department
of
Homeland
Security,
the
FBI's
Terrorist
Screening
Center,
the
National
Counterterrorism
Center,
the
Department
of
State,
the
Department
of
Defense
and
other
intelligence
agencies.
Mindful
of
the
particular
conditions
of
the
Syria
crisis,
Syrian
refugees
go
through
yet
additional
forms
of
screening
even
after
they
have
successfully
completed
prior
rounds
of
law
enforcement
and
counter-terrorism
vetting.
The
United
States
also
prioritizes
the
most
vulnerable
refugees
from
around
the
world
for
resettlement.
This
includes
children,
female-headed
households,
the
elderly,
people
with
severe
medical
conditions
and
victims
of
torture.
In
fact,
98%
of
Syrian
refugees
admitted
to
the
U.S.
since
the
start
of
the
conflict
belong
to
these
categories.
We
aren't
bringing
into
the
United
States
the
type
of
person
who
fits
the
profile
of
those
that
could
pose
a
danger
to
us.
Finally,
it
is
critical
that
the
United
States
develop
a
comprehensive
strategy
to
defeat
ISIS.
This
brutal
terrorist
organization
is the number
one
threat
in
the
region,
and
defeating
them
must
remain
our
focus.
This
strategy
should
include
several
key
elements.
The
U.S.
should
help
stand
up
an
inclusive
Iraqi
fighting
force
capable
of
taking
the
fight
to
ISIS;
continue
airstrikes
and
special
operations
missions
against
key
ISIS
targets
in
Iraq
and
Syria;
significantly
ramp
up
our
humanitarian
assistance;
and
work
with
our
allies
and
others
in
the
region
toward
a
political
solution
to
end
the
Syrian
civil
war. We
also
need
to
devote
significantly
more
resources
to
countering
violent
extremism
both
at
home
and
abroad,
and
preventing
the
ability
of
groups
like
ISIS
to
recruit
young
people
online.
None
of
this
requires
a
large-scale
expansion
of
American
ground
troops,
which
would
further
radicalize
the
conflict.
Deploying
American
troops to
Syria
in
the
middle
of
a
civil
war
inevitably
risks
drawing
U.S.
forces
into
direct
combat
with
a
proliferating
number
of
armed
groups
and
foreign
militaries,
a
quagmire
that
could
involve
us
for
years
to
come.
We
cannot
defeat
ISIS
without
the
commitment
of
the
local
forces
and
populations
that
live
next
to
them,
and
we
cannot
win
this
fight
for
them.
But
we
can
and
must
lead
the
international
coalition
to
defeat
ISIS
and
change
the
conditions
that
led
to
their
rise
in
the
first
place.
I
believe
America
can
simultaneously
protect
our
country
and
help
rescue
others
who
have
been
legitimate
victims
of
torture
and
terror.
That's
going
to
be
my
focus
moving
forward.
As
your
U.S.
Senator
and
a
member
of
the
Senate
Foreign
Relations
Committee,
I
will
keep
your
concerns
in
mind
as
I
work
with
my
Senate
colleagues
to
ensure
the
safety
of
our
country.
Every Best Wish,
Christopher S. Murphy
United States Senator
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