U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has made good on his promise to investigate recurring problems with the National Instant Check System (NICS) (see FAX Alert Vol. 7, No. 20). Wednesday he chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing that sought to find solutions that will improve NICS. Those who testified before the committee included former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), U.S. Senator Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.),
Senator Hatch called for the hearing in response to the growing concern that the Clinton-Gore Administration has deliberately sabotaged the NICS system through shoddy implementation and operation practices, causing NICS to be frequently "down" for hours -- even days -- at a stretch. Hatch pointed out the fact that NICS was down for four days straight this year, which coincided with the so-called "Million Mom March," and that FBI reports show NICS was not operating for at least 215 hours last year. We thank Senator Hatch for his commitment to ensuring NICS operates as intended -- effectively, efficiently, and instantly -- and we will continue to report on progress on this front.
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