I was apparently placed on the terrorist watch list when my firm bought me a last minute ticket to fly down to a city on the Texas/Mexican border to hand-deliver a proposal for a multi-million dollar project to meet the city’s deadline. I checked no luggage, put only 1 mile on a rental car (city hall was very close to the airport) and flew out on the next flight. On my way back to the security checkpoint, I was called by name and questioned by a Border Patrol agent, an airport security officer, and an unidentified man not in uniform regarding the purpose of my trip. I explained what I was doing and they took quite a bit of time going through my nearly empty carry bag, my size 15 shoes, and the contents of my pockets. I was allowed to fly home without further incident, but for the next two years I was on the terror watch list. And if you’re on the terror watch list, there is no way to get yourself off, there is no one to talk to about it, there is no way to clear your name. In fact, I was advised no to pursue matters because that would look “suspicious” and would likely make matters worse.

However, over those two years, I purchased a .22 target pistol (one of my hobbies is target shooting) and a 9mm Sig Sauer for target shooting and home defense. I went through the proper channels and was allowed to buy the guns. I finally decided to get an concealed handgun permit to force the federal government to do a full investigation of my background and to do a complete background check. I don’t know if that made a difference, but I’m now off the list.

I can’t tell you how much I resent the uninformed media spokespeople, the dishonest politicians (the people making the stink about gun buyers being on the terror watch list are the same people who complain that all the people on the terror watch list are innocent until proven guilty), and the anti-gun lobbies who jump on this story in order to push their agenda, knowing full well that it is dishonest. I’m not really a big fan of the NRA, but the NRA gains an enormous amount of credibility each time the anti-gun crowd makes these dishonest accusations.

Frankly, I’m surprised that there are fewer than 900 gun sales over five years to people on the terror watch list. Especially since I represent two of those sales!