New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton is urging Congress to pass a law not allowing anyone on the terrorist watch list to be able to purchase weapons.
"If Congress really wants to do something instead of just talking about something, help us out with that terrorist watch list, those thousands of people that can purchase firearms in this country," Bratton said Sunday on
"Meet the Press."
"I'm more worried about them than I am about Syrian refugees," Bratton said.
Congressional Democrats have introduced a bill to ban such purchase, but the action is opposed by the National Rifle Association, which cites people being placed on the watch list by accident.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a GOP presidential candidate, was asked later in the program about the Bratton's thoughts and said it should be considered.
Bratton was also asked about District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy Lanier suggestion, to air Sunday night on "60 Minutes," that an armed person should try to take out a terrorist.
"There's nothing new about that, that if somebody is armed in one of those scenarios and has the potential," Bratton said.
He warned, however, that someone with a handgun taking on someone with an AK-47 assault rifle will be outgunned and is putting himself or herself in serious risk.
"But at the same time, if the scenario allows for that, then certainly we would support that," Bratton said.
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