WASHINGTON – Today, during her first Congressional hearing as United States Attorney General, Loretta Lynch committed to U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will work to strengthen and enhance the existing processes, like the federal background check system, that our nation has in place to keep guns out of potentially dangerous hands. Specifically, Lynch assured Murphy that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives would have access to the resources they need to run as effectively as possible. 

The exchange between Murphy and Lynch occurred during a U.S. Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2016 funding request and budget justification for the DOJ.


The full text of Murphy’s and Lynch’s exchange is below:

Senator Murphy: I represent Newtown, Connecticut – Sandy Hook; that’s a community that is still grieving and dealing with the ripples of trauma that still exist there. I understand the realities of this place – that we are not likely to get a bill expanding background checks, though 90% of Americans support the notion that everyone should have to prove they are not a criminal before they buy a gun. But, as Senator Shelby noted in his opening comments, the ATF position is open – a very important position for the enforcement of existing laws. And the existing national background check system can be made much better, to make sure that all the data is being uploaded into it, making sure that that information is distributed. 100,000 people every year are prohibited from buying guns because of the background check system; it works.

So I just would ask for your commitment to work with us, to make sure the ATF has the resources that they need in order to carry out existing laws and your commitment, as your predecessor did, to work with us on making sure that our national background check system has the resources it needs to continue to do the good work that it has for decades.

Attorney General Lynch: Certainly, Senator. I am committed to that important goal of supporting and strengthening the ATF, as well as making sure that their processes and the existing systems are as efficient as possible, because that’s how we protect our citizens.