Lat week, I mentioned a bill introduced by Frank Lautenberg (D, NJ) that would close a loophole that currently allows suspected terrorists to legally purchase guns. Today, the AP is reporting that the NRA has officially come out against the bill:

>The National Rifle Association is urging the Bush administration to withdraw its support of a bill that would prohibit suspected terrorists from buying firearms. Backed by the Justice Department, the measure would give the attorney general the discretion to block gun sales, licenses or permits to terror suspects.
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>In a letter this week to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, NRA executive director Chris Cox said the bill, offered last week by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., “would allow arbitrary denial of Second Amendment rights based on mere ‘suspicions’ of a terrorist threat.”
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>"As many of our friends in law enforcement have rightly pointed out, the word ‘suspect’ has no legal meaning, particularly when it comes to denying constitutional liberties," Cox wrote.

It is unlikely that their line of reasoning will work with President Bush. He has done much worse “when it comes to denying constitutional liberties” to people based on a “mere ‘suspicions’ of a terrorist threat.” But, since it is the NRA that is asking, loyalty may weigh out reason and cause him to back away from the bill.

Here is the letter that the NRA sent to Attorney General Gonzales.