Sometimes you have to wonder if the federal government is serious about the war on terror.

A case in point is the revelation last week that guns had been purchased - legally - by 35 people on the nation's terrorist watch list. In other words, possible terrorists walked into a gun store somewhere in the United States, filled out the background check papers, and were sold a firearm.

What makes this even more curious is in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, the FBI wasn't notified when a suspected terrorist was identified during a background check.

Why? Because of the National Rifle Association and its almost hypnotic hold on many members of Congress.

NRA officials point to state and federal laws that stipulate that neither suspected nor actual membership in a terrorist organization is a stand-alone factor that would prohibit a person from buying a firearm. There have been some modifications in the law in the past year or so. At least now the sale of a firearm to a terrorist suspect is delayed until the person's background is investigated.

The NRA's Wayne LaPierre has said no one should be denied the right to buy a gun unless there is a "good reason," and being on the terrorist watch list is not a good reason.

At least this solves the mystery of how terrorists get their weapons.

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