Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on U.S. Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis to immediately initiate a full audit of required notifications to the FBI by all military criminal investigative organizations. This letter follows the report that the Air Force failed to input the Sutherland Springs, Texas, killer’s domestic violence records into the federal database that could have blocked him from buying the gun he used in the mass shooting.
“Hearing that the shooter was a former service member with military convictions for domestic violence was even more troubling. However, learning that this senseless act of violence might have been prevented if only the proper form was filled out by military investigators was absolutely devastating,” Senator Gillibrand wrote to Secretary Mattis. “If this can happen in one case, it could happen in others… I request that you immediately initiate an audit of all military criminal investigative organizations. The audit should (at the least) review every case over the last 10 years in which the military was required to notify the Federal Bureau of Investigations of the outcome.”
The full text of the letter is available here and below:
November 6, 2017
The Honorable James N. Mattis
U. S. Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Mattis:
The news of the mass shooting in Texas this past weekend has brought shock and grief to many across the nation. Hearing that the shooter was a former service member with military convictions for domestic violence was even more troubling. However, learning that this senseless act of violence might have been prevented if only the proper form was filled out by military investigators was absolutely devastating.
If this can happen in one case, it could happen in others. We must do everything we can to make sure it does not happen again. I request that you immediately initiate an audit of all military criminal investigative organizations. The audit should (at the least) review every case over the last 10 years in which the military was required to notify the Federal Bureau of Investigations of the outcome. For cases in which notifications were made, the notifications should be reviewed for accuracy. Lastly, the audit should take a comprehensive look at the Department of Defense and each service’s instruction on this topic as well as the training provided to staff tasked with making notifications.
I understand that the investigative organizations are working hard and this adds an additional requirement. But, I urge you to dedicate the resources necessary to accomplish this important review in a timely fashion.
Sincerely,
Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. Senator