Anna Throne-Holst slams Lee Zeldin on terror-weapon bill

Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, who is looking to oppose Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin next November, dropped off petitions with 800 signatures at the congressman’s local district office Monday urging him to back fellow Republican Rep. Peter King’s proposal to bar those involved in terrorism from being able to get guns.

Throne-Holst criticized the Shirley Republican for voting three times to block what she termed “a simple, straightforward, common-sense” bill that will better protect the public. “We got these signatures in just a few days over the weekend, which show that this is a front-and-center issue for the people of his district,” said Throne-Holst.

The measure would amend the federal code to allow the attorney general to deny or revoke licenses and bar the sale of firearms and explosives to those involved in terrorist activities.

“Due to a loophole in our current system, suspects on the FBI’s terrorist watch list who are on the ‘no fly list’ are still able to purchase weapons and explosives,” said Throne-Holst, adding that Zeldin was the “only member of the Long Island congressional delegation to oppose this no-brainer measure.”

Jennifer DiSiena, Zeldin’s spokeswoman, said Throne-Holst’s attack is “false and misleading” because it deals with procedural votes on several energy bills scheduled for debate that had nothing to do with guns.

“ISIS must be defeated overseas so that we aren’t facing the threat more and more here at home,” she said. “The approach of the president and his minions needs to evolve into a strategy to win, as opposed to just running in place at best.”