Learn more and take action: www.closetheterrorgap.org

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid:

The shooting of American troops on American soil at Fort Hood has stunned the nation and devastated the families of those killed. The shooting raises the question: what might the federal government do to prevent future attacks?

Here are the emerging facts:

Major Nidal Malik Hasan was suspected of having terrorist links.• The FBI had monitored Hasan, reviewing 10-20 communications between Hasan and Anwar al Awlaki – an al Qaeda recruiter who acted as a “spiritual advisor” to two of the 9/11 hijackers.

Hasan passed the federal background check• that is designed to prevent criminals and other dangerous persons from obtaining guns.

FBI counterterrorism officials were not notified when Hasan purchased a gun.•

Major Hasan used that gun to kill 13 people and injure more than 30 others.• Law enforcement experts recognize that knowledge of Major Hasan’s gun purchase could have been key to the FBI’s investigation into his association with terrorists:

Samuel L. Jones, Mobile, ALRon Davis, Prichard, ALOmar Neal, Tuskegee, ALCarolyn Floyd, Kodiak, ALPatrick Hays, North Little Rock, ARCarl A. Redus, Pine Bluff, ARJane P. Kennedy, Campbell, CACheryl Cox, Chula Vista, CARobert Wasserman, Fremont, CAAshley Swearengin, Fresno, CARoosevelt F. Dorn, Inglewood, CASukhee Kang, Irvine, CALarry Burrola, Irwindale, CAAntonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles, CARob Schroder, Martinez, CAPaul Eaton, Montclair, CARonald V. Dellums, Oakland, CASue Severson, Orinda, CAPamela Torliatt, Petaluma, CAJennifer Hosterman, Pleasanton, CAGayle McLaughlin, Richmond, CADennis Donohue, Salinas, CAPatrick J. Morris, San Bernardino, CAJerry Sanders, San Diego, CAGavin Newsom, San Francisco, CAChuck Reed, San Jose, CAMiguel Pulido, Santa Ana, CAMarty Blum, Santa Barbara, CASusan Gorin, Santa Rosa, CAKen Genser, Santa Monica, CAAnn Johnston, Stockton, CAAnthony Spitaleri, Sunnyvale, CAMorris Vance, Vista, CAAbbe Land, West Hollywood, CAChristopher Cabaldon, West Sacramento, CAJohn Hickenlooper, Denver, COBill Finch, Bridgeport, CTApril Capone Almon, East Haven, CTEddie Perez, Hartford, CTJohn DeStefano, New Haven, CTRichard A. Moccia, Norwalk, CTDannel P. Malloy, Stamford, CTScott Slifka, West Hartford, CTAdrian Fenty, Washington, DCMichael J. Smith, Blades, DEWayne Baker, Dagsboro, DEJohn W. Martin, Delaware City, DEJames L. Ford III, Lewes, DEKenneth Branner, Middletown, DEDonald Minyon, Millville, DEJohn Klingmeyer, New Castle, DEJames M. Baker, Wilmington, DEJohn S. Meserve, Atlantic Beach, FLManny Fernandez, Atlantis, FLSusan Gottlieb, Aventura, FLPerry Knight, Bowling Green, FLDebby Eisinger, Cooper City, FLScott J. Brook, Coral Springs, FLJoyce A. Davis, El Portal, FLBruce Malcolm, Fernandina Beach, FLCharles Sanders, Greenwood, FLJoy Cooper, Hallandale Beach, FLRoland Via, Holly Hill, FLPeter Bober, Hollywood, FLKenneth M. Shultz, Hypoluxo, FLJohn Peyton, Jacksonville, FLMuriel H. Whitman, Kenneth City, FLMary Lou Hildreth, Keystone Heights, FLPatricia Gerard, Largo, FLBarrington Russell, Lauderdale Lakes, FLRichard Kaplan, Lauderhill, FLRoseann Minnet, Lauderdale By the Sea, FLMatti H. Bower, Miami Beach, FLBill Barnett, Naples, FL

Harriet Pruette, Neptune Beach, FLAndre Pierre, North Miami, FLRaymond Marin, North Miami Beach, FLDavid Norris, North Palm Beach, FLDarla Lauer, Oak Hill, FLJoseph L. Kelley, Opa-Locka, FLBuddy Dyer, Orlando, FLFred Costello, Ormond Beach, FLFrank C. Ortis, Pembroke Pines, FLPatricia Christensen, Port St. Lucie, FLRobert Wishner, Sunrise, FLJohn Marks, III, Tallahassee, FLBeth Talabisco, Tamarac, FLPam Iorio, Tampa, FLLois Frankel, West Palm Beach, FLHeidi Davison, Athens-Clarke County, GAShirley Franklin, Atlanta, GAJere Wood, Roswell, GAOtis Johnson, Savannah, GAJohn Fretti, Valdosta, GADonnie Henriques, Woodstock, GAMufi Hannemann, Honolulu, HIRichard Daley, Chicago, ILElizabeth Tisdahl, Evanston, ILHenderson Yarbrough, Sr., Maywood, ILChristopher Koos, Normal, ILLawrence J. Morrissey, Rockford, ILRichard Hickman, Angola, INFred L. Armstrong, Columbus, INTom C. Henry, Fort Wayne, INAllan Kauffman, Goshen, INTom Jones, Linton, INStephen Luecke, South Bend, INKay Halloran, Cedar Rapids, IAT.M. Franklin Cownie, Des Moines, IAClausie W. Smith, Bonner Springs City, KSJoe Reardon, KS City, KSLarry G. Meeker, Lake Quivira, KSKenneth W. Bernard, Lansing, KSElaine Walker, Bowling Green, KYJerry Abramson, Louisville, KYMelvin “Kip” Holden, Baton Rouge, LARay Nagin, New Orleans, LACedric B. Glover, Shreveport, LAArthur Verow, Brewer, MELaurent F. Gilbert Sr., Lewiston, MEJill C. Duson, Portland, MERoland Michaud, Saco, MEEllen Moyer, Annapolis, MDSheila Dixon, Baltimore, MDJames Ireton, Jr, Salisbury, MDThatcher W. Kezer, III, Amesbury, MAThomas Menino, Boston, MAJames E. Harrington, Brockton, MAE. Denise Simmons, Cambridge, MAJim Fiorentini, Haverhill, MAMichael J. Sullivan, Holyoke, MAMichael Sullivan, Lawrence, MAEdward C. Caulfield, Lowell, MARichard C. Howard, Malden, MAScott Lang, New Bedford, MAJohn F. Moak, Newburyport, MAClare Higgins, Northampton, MAThomas G. Ambrosino, Revere, MAKimberley Driscoll, Salem, MAJoseph A. Curtatone, Somerville, MADomenic Sarno, Springfield, MASusan M. Kay, Weymouth, MABrenda L. Lawrence, Southfield, MISteve Lampi, Brooklyn Park, MNElizabeth B. Kautz, Burnsville, MNDon Ness, Duluth, MNR.T. Rybak, Minneapolis, MNChris Coleman, Saint Paul, MN

Harvey Johnson, Jackson, MSJohnny DuPree, Hattiesburg, MSMichael Pembleton Jr, Sunflower, MS Mark Funkhouser, KS City, MOFrancis Slay, St. Louis, MOChris Beutler, Lincoln, NEJim Suttle, Omaha, NEDonald A. Groesser, Ralston, NEKevin G. Sanders, Asbury Park, NJRonald Jones, Beachwood, NJJason J. Varano, Berkeley Township, NJGwendolyn A. Faison, Camden, NJSophie Heymann, Borough of Closter, NJCarol Foster, Corbin City, NJJames Carroll, Demarest, NJJoseph R. Smith, East Newark, NJRobert L. Bowser, East Orange, NJJun Choi, Edison, NJJ. Christian Bollwage, Elizabeth, NJSteven Weinstein, Fair Lawn, NJJohn F. Bencivengo, Hamilton, NJMeryl Frank, Highland Park, NJPaul Anzano, Hopewell, NJWayne Smith, Irvington, NJJerramiah Healy, Jersey City, NJFrank W. Minor, Logan Township, NJNicholas Russo, Longport, NJMichael Fressola, Manchester Township, NJFrank M. North, Merchantville, NJJames A. Gallos, Borough of Milford, NJJerry Fried, Montclair, NJDonald Cresitello, Morristown, NJCory Booker, Newark, NJPeter C. Massa, North Arlington, NJFrancis M. Womack, III, N. Brunswick, NJRandy George, North Haledon, NJMichael Luther, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJSamuel Rivera, Passaic, NJJose Torres, Paterson, NJHarry L. Wyant, Phillipsburg, NJGary Giberson, Port Republic, NJPasquale Menna, Borough of Red Bank, NJEarl Gage, Salem, NJDouglas Palmer, Trenton, NJBetty Simmons, Victory Gardens, NJRobert Romano, Vineland, NJShing-Fu Hsueh, West Windsor, NJJohn E. McCormac, Woodbridge, NJDavid Coss, Santa Fe, NMGerald Jennings, Albany, NYJames Gaughan, Altamont, NYJeff Roderick, Arkport, NYAnn Thane, Amsterdam, NYSteve Gold, Beacon, NYDonna Sherrer, Bellerose, NYMatthew T. Ryan, Binghamton, NYEugene Christopher, Broadalbin, NYByron Brown, Buffalo, NYLeigh Fuller, Canandaigua, NYJerome Kobre, Chestnut Ridge, NYRobert Goering, Clinton, NYJohn McDonald, Cohoes, NYBarbara Alberti, Depew, NYPaul Rickenbach, East Hampton, NYDaniel Liedka, East Syracuse, NYJeffrey Kaplan, Ellenville, NYMark Olson, Fayetteville, NYCharles Weiss, Flower Hill, NYJohn Diamond, Glens Falls, NYDorothy Vorce, Gouverneur, NYBarbara Moore, Greenwood Lake, NYMartin Natoli, Hagaman, NYEmery Cummings Jr, Hammondsport, NYMichael Kohut, Haverstraw, NY

Wayne J. Hall Sr., Hempstead, NYBernard Jackson, Hillburn, NYMichael McDermott, Homer, NYShannon Hogan, Hornell, NYRichard Scalera, Hudson, NYCarolyn Peterson, Ithaca, NYSamuel Teresi, Jamestown, NYJames Sottile, Kingston, NYRobert Blais, Lake George, NYAnthony Caprino, Lakewood, NYElizabeth Feld, Larchmont, NYCarl Luft, Lima, NYRobert Peters, Little Falls, NYCorrine Kleisle, Lyons, NYBarbara Clark, Madison, NYPatricia McDonald, Malverne, NYAnthony Sylvester, Mechanicville, NYMarlinda Duncanson, Middletown, NYJohn Karl, Monroe, NYJeffrey Oppenheim, Montebello, NYGordon Jenkins, Monticello, NYClinton Young, Mount Vernon, NYDon Braun, Naples, NYNicholas Valentine, Newburgh, NYNoam Bramson, New Rochelle, NYMichael Bloomberg, NY, NYRobert M. Maciol, NY Mills, NYJohn Heindorf, North Syracuse, NYLawrence Soos, North Tonawanda, NYJoseph Maiurano, Norwich, NYJohn Nader, Oneonta, NYBrian Wona, Otisville, NYMary Foster, Peekskill, NYChristopher Sanders, Piermont, NYJohn Tkazyik, Poughkeepsie, NYRobert Weitzner, Port WA, NYGeorge Motz, Quogue, NYJohn Bruno, Ravena, NYDaniel J. Dwyer, Rensselaer, NYKevin Neary, Richmondville, NYRobert Duffy, Rochester, NYSusan Ben-Moshe, Roslyn Estates, NYCarolyn Stevens, Scarsdale, NYDiana Smith, Seneca Falls, NYBrian U. Stratton, Schenectady, NYCarl Wright, Sloatsburg, NYJohn Patterson, Sherman, NYKaren Strickland, South Dayton, NYPatricia DuBow, South Nyack, NYJohn Keegan, Suffern, NYMatthew J. Driscoll, Syracuse, NYJohn Fitzpatrick, Tuckahoe, NYDavid R. Roefaro, Utica, NYMichael P. Manning, Watervliet, NYDavid Carr, Westfield, NYJohn Ramundo Jr, West Haverstraw, NYLudwig Odierna, Williston Park, NYPhilip Amicone, Yonkers, NYTerry Bellamy, Asheville, NCKevin Foy, Chapel Hill, NCJohn R. Bost, Clemmons, NCBill Bell, Durham, NCYvonne Johnson, Greensboro, NCCharles Meeker, Raleigh, NCVictor Varela, Ronda, NCDennis Walaker, Fargo, NDDan Pillow, Addyston, OHDonald Plusquellic, Akron, OHMerle S. Gorden, Beachwood, OHDaniel Pocek, Bedford, OHFletcher Berger, Bedford Heights, OHJohn Licastro, Bratenahl, OHSamuel J. Alai, Broadview Heights, OHMark Mallory, Cincinnati, OH

Frank Jackson, Cleveland, OHEdward Kelley, Cleveland Heights, OHMichael Coleman, Columbus, OHRhine McLin, Dayton, OHMarilee Chinnici-Zuercher, Dublin, OHBill Cervenik, Euclid, OHTheodore Shannon, Fairfax, OHThomas J. Longo, Garfield Heights, OHJoseph C. Hubbard, Glendale, OHAlan Zaffiro, Golf Manor, OHDeborah Neale, Lakeline, OHMichael A. Kolomichuk, Lakemore, OHJo Ann Toczek, Linndale, OHDonald Kuchta, Macedonia, OHBruce G. Rinker, Mayfield Village, OHGary Starr, Middleburg Heights, OHSusan Renda, Moreland Hills, OHThomas E. O’Grady, North Olmsted, OHKathy Mulcahy, Orange Village, OHDaniel J. Ursu, Richmond Heights, OHMartin Zanotti, Parma Heights, OHBruce H. Akers, Pepper Pike, OHEarl M. Leiken, Shaker Heights, OHJohn Smith, Silverton, OHKevin C. Patton, Solon, OHGeorgine Welo, South Euclid, OHMatthew Brett, South Russell, OHCarleton S. Finkbeiner, Toledo, OHDarreyl D. Davis, Trotwood, OHBeryl Rothschild, University Heights, OHMichael J. O’Brien, Warren, OHBarry Porter, Wyoming, OHJay Williams, Youngstown, OHKitty Piercy, Eugene, ORSam Adams, Portland, OREd Pawlowski, Allentown, PAAnthony Battalini, Aliquippa, PACharles T. Wahl, Ambler, PAGretchen Dosch, Applewold, PABernard Killian, Aspinwall, PAAlexander Bennett, Jr, Baldwin, PAPhillip Ferrizzi, Bally, PACloyd W. Wagner, Beavertown, PADavid E. Orr, Beech Creek, PAStanley Goldman, Bellefonte, PAKenneth Opipery, Ben Avon, PAJohn B. Callahan, Bethlehem, PAGail Stoudt, Bernville, PARobert M. Myers, Birdsboro, PAMarianne Deery, Boyertown, PAKenneth Lockhart, Brentwood, PAJoseph Saxton, Bristol, PADavid Wonderling, Brookville, PAMargaret Stock, Butler, PAJohn Henicheck, Callery, PAJustin M. Taylor, Carbondale, PAKirk R. Wilson, Carlisle, PADonald Baumgarten, Castle Shannon, PABarbara A. Schlegel, Catasauqua, PAMarilyn Becker, Chalfont, PAWendell N. Butler, Jr., Chester, PARonald W. Lockwood, Cherry Valley, PAPaul H. McKenna, Churchill, PADavid Virgona, Clairton, PAJohn Hartman, Cleona, PAClaire Remington, Coaldale, PAJudy Reed, Connellsville, PAJonathan J. Mack, Coopersburg, PAJohn Haberland, Coraopolis, PAHelen Thomas, Darby, PAMichael Cooper, Deer Lake, PAMary Ann Fichthorn, Denver, PAThomas R. Lloyd, Dormont, PA

Libby White, Doylestown, PAHeather Ann Bruno, Downingtown, PABetty M. Hays, Eagles Mere, PASalvatore J. Panto, Jr., Easton, PAWayne T. Murphy, Edgeworth, PARobert H. Brain, Elizabethtown, PAJoseph J. Cisco, Ellport, PARichard Carr, Emlenton, PAWinfield Iobst, Emmaus, PAGeorge Rossi, Emsworth, PAJoseph Sinnott, Erie, PAGary Foster, Evans City, PAOlive McKeithan, Farrell, PAHarry W. McLaughlin Jr., Fox Chapel, PAFred C. Moyer, Jr., Freeburg, PAGerald C. Yob, Freemansburg, PAVincent Abbato, Green Tree, PARoy Del Rosario, Hamburg, PAStephen R. Reed, Harrisburg, PANorah Hawkes, Hatboro, PAJohn Hoerner, Highspire, PAJoseph R. Dodson, Hollidaysburg, PABetty Esper, Homestead, PANicholas Yanosich, Industry, PACharles Ritter, Ivyland, PABruce Smallacombe, Jermyn, PADonald Bosh, Knoxville, PARobert Slaby, Kulpmont, PASandra Green, Kutztown, PAJoseph Legnasky, Lake City, PAJ. Richard Gray, Lancaster, PAJayne C. Young, Lansdowne, PAChristopher Blaydon, Langhorne, PARobert P. Carpenter, Laporte, PAFred Feltenberger, Laureldale, PATrish Ward, Lebanon, PAPeter Poninsky, Leetsdale, PAJohn Gides, Lilly, PA Nick Vay, Lincoln, PAJohn L. Mark, Liverpool, PARandy Schlegel, Lyons, PAGerard J. McGlone, Jr., Malvern, PADavid Sturgess, Manor, PARussell LaRew, Marianna, PAOliver C. Overlander, II, Marietta, PARichard Friedberg, Meadville, PAAngela Adkins, Midland, PARichard C. Trostle, Mohnton, PAJohn P. Antoline, Monaca, PAAnthony Petacia, Monessen, PAJohn Dorin, Montoursville, PAJeffrey L. Repasky, Mount Oliver, PAJames F. Kinder, Mount Wolf, PARaymond Bodnar, Munhall, PAJoyce K. Somers, Murrysville, PAThomas Lush, Myerstown, PABetty T. Cain, New Alexandria, PAFrank E. Link, New Kensington, PAFrances Tkach, New Philadelphia, PARaymond McDonough, N. Braddock, PAGennaro Cantalupo, NorthernCambria, PAThomas Reenock, Northampton, PAMichele Petrini Avvisato, Old Forge, PAGeoffrey L. Henry, Oxford, PAArdele R. Gordon, Parkside, PARichard Pegg, Patterson Heights, PAMichael Nutter, Philadelphia, PAMorris S. Williams, Pine Gove, PALuke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh, PAJohn D.W. Reiley, Pottsville, PATom McMahon, Reading, PAFrank Schnee, Robesonia, PAAnthony Hajjar, Seward, PA

Joseph McGranghan, Shamokin Dam, PARobert Lucas Jr, Sharon PABruce Hockersmith, Shippensburg, PARobert Prah, Smithton, PAWilliam Meyer, Somerset, PAJohn Reynolds, Souderton, PAJames C. Kennedy, South Coatesville, PABoyd Paul, Snow Shoe, PASherman Metzgar, Stockertown, PACharles Baughman, Stroudsburg, PAWarren Lubenow, St. Lawrence, PAPaul R. McArdle, Summit Hill, PALuke Duignam, Tatamy, PAJay R. Stover, Telford, PAKenneth Danser, Timblin, PAPamela Murphy, Thompsontown, PACharles Harper, Three Springs, PARegina T. Beck, Trainer, PACatherine Resch, Tunnelhill, PAAdam R. Forgie, Turtle Creek, PAWilliam Allar, Tremont, PA Thomas Micozzie, Upper Darby, PAEmerson Fazekas, Versailles, PAJeffrey Steffler, Wampum, PAEster Cotner, WAville, PADavid Perruso, Wilson, PA Tina Hagenbuch, Weissport, PARalph Harrington, West Elizabeth, PAJohn Andzelik, West Mifflin, PAWilliam Goldsworthy, West Pittston, PAJohn Henry, West View, PAThomas M. Leighton, Wilkes-Barre, PAJohn A. Thompson, Wilkinsburg, PAMitchell Mogilski, Sr., Wind Gap, PALarry Markel, Windsor, PAThomas Stanton, Wheatland, PAJacqueline B. Mosley, Yeadon, PAJohn Sanford, Yoe, PAJohn S. Brenner, York, PAAlford Shull, York Springs, PAJoan Derco, Youngwood, PADavid Cicilline, Providence, RIJoseph Riley, Charleston, SCRobert D. Coble, Columbia, SC Joseph T. McElveen, Jr., Sumter, SCTom Beehan, Oak Ridge, TNA C Wharton, Shelby County, TNRichard Ward, Hurst, TXBob Kiss, Burlington, VTChristopher C. Louras, Rutland City, VTWilliam B. Euille, Alexandria, VAFaye Prichard, Ashland, VADave Norris, Charlottesville, VARobin S. Gardner, Falls Church, VAJames P. Councill III, Franklin, VABrenda Pelham, Hopewell, VAJoe Frank, Newport News, VAPaul D. Fraim, Norfolk, VAAnnie M. Mickens, Petersburg, VAJames W. Holley III, Portsmouth, VAIris Tharp, Quantico, VADwight C. Jones, Richmond, VAWilliam D. Sessoms Jr, VA Beach, VAPeter B. Lewis, Auburn, WAGreg Nickels, Seattle, WABill Baarsma, Tacoma, WADavid Edler, Yakima, WA Dave Cieslewicz, Madison, WITom Barrett, Milwaukee, WIThomas Ratzlaff, Park Falls, WIRichard Johns, Rhinelander, WIAl Richards, Saint Francis, WIKristine M. Deiss, West Bend, WILarry Nelson, Waukesha, WI

500 Mayors agree wItH tHe oBaMa aNd BusH adMINIstratIoNs:

Paid for by Mayors Against Illegal Guns Action Fund.

Over 500 mayors who are members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns support changes in federal law and policy to prevent terrorists from obtaining guns.

The federal government should take these urgently needed steps:

CLose tHe terror gaP • in the background check system. In 2007, the Bush Administration asked Congress to give the FBI the power to block gun and explosives sales to terror suspects. And just last week, Attorney General Eric Holder endorsed this legislation on behalf of the Obama Administration. Unfortunately, Congress has failed to act. According to the Government Accountability Office, over the past five years people on the terrorist watch list bought guns or explosives more than 850 times.

rePeaL tHe tIaHrt aMeNdMeNts • which require the FBI to destroy records of approved background checks performed on gun purchasers within 24 hours. Allowing the Department of Justice to maintain those records for 90 days and longer for terror suspects could have given the FBI time to investigate Hasan’s records.

Today, more than 500 mayors are asking you to stand with us to protect the men and women who serve our country and prevent future mass shootings by terrorists.

Sincerely, Mayors Against Illegal Guns

“The piece of information about the gun

could have been critical,” said former FBI

Special Agent Brad Garrett. “One of the

problems is that the law sometimes restricts

you in what you can do.”—11/12/09

stop terror suspects From getting guns