Blumenthal Statement on Shocking IG Report of Rampany Lapses in DoD Reporting to Federal Background Check System

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today in response to a report published by the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General detailing vast underreporting to the federal background check system across military branches that may have contributed to convicted former servicemembers accessing firearms. The review revealed chronic lapses in required reporting of servicemembers convicted by a court martial of certain offenses: thirty-one percent of court-martials that should have barred individuals from owning a firearm went unreported to the FBI by the military in 2015 and 2016. 

“The outrageous number of rampant security lapses in the DoD Inspector General’s report reveal unacceptable shortfalls in security within every military branch – potentially leading to violent or even fatal incidents perpetrated by dangerous criminals that should be prevented,” said Blumenthal. “This is a sobering reminder that even in the greatest military in the world, lapses in duty and diligence have consequences. There is no doubt that this report requires a pledge by the military to make concerted improvements – including holding those responsible directly accountable for these persistent failures, as well as swift implementation of the recommendations made by this report. As a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will continue to work with DoD and my Senate colleagues to ensure this issue is rapidly resolved and subject to strict oversight.”

Blumenthal wrote a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis in November demanding DoD explain the lapse in Air Force reporting process that allowed Sutherland Springs, Texas shooter Devin Patrick Kelley to obtain firearms. He also introduced the bipartisan Fix NICS Act, which would ensure federal and state authorities comply with existing law and accurately report relevant criminal history records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), preventing the sale of firearms to people who are a danger to themselves or others.