Dem governor moves to ban no-fly list gun sales

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) is moving to ban gun sales to people on the federal government’s no-fly list for potential terrorism suspects. 

“We’re taking common sense steps in #CT to close the loophole and allow firearm permits to be denied to those on gov’t watch lists,” Malloy tweeted Thursday fternoon as he was making the announcement of the new ban in Connecticut. 

We're taking common sense steps in #CT to close the loophole and allow firearm permits to be denied to those on gov't watch lists

— Governor Dan Malloy (@GovMalloyOffice) December 10, 2015

{mosads}Gun control advocates, including President Obama, have been pushing for a ban on gun sales to passengers who are included on the federal no-fly list since last week’s shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., where a Muslim couple killed 14 people as they declared allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The shooting has sparked renewed debates about the immigration system and gun control, with Democrats pressing to prevent gun sales to people on the no-fly list.

Republicans have noted that a ban on gun sales to passengers on federal no-fly lists would not have prevented the San Bernardino tragedy because the shooters were already in the U.S. 

Critics have also noted that many innocent people have gotten placed on federal watch lists.

Malloy said Thursday that a ban on gun sales to people who are prohibited from boarding flights makes sense as the nation struggles to deal with repeated mass shootings, including a 2012 incident at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., that resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults.  

“If you cannot fly due to being on a watch list, you shouldn’t be able to purchase a firearm #CloseTheLoophole,” his office tweeted. 

DM: "If you cannot fly due to being on a watch list, you shouldn't be able to purchase a firearm" #CloseTheLoophole

— Governor Dan Malloy (@GovMalloyOffice) December 10, 2015

“Since Congress so far has failed to act, we will,” he continued in a subsequent tweet. 

Ben Kamisar contributed to this report.