"The Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was created to consolidate the U.S. government's approach to terrorism screening and to develop and maintain a database of information about known or suspected terrorists, known as the Terrorist Screening Database (TSBD) or terrorist watchlist. The TSC is administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with support from the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), the Intelligence Community, and law enforcement agencies." -- Executive summary.

The governments consolidated terrorist watchlist was created in March 2004 by merging previously separate watchlists that were once maintained by different gov¿t. agencies. The watchlist is managed by the FBI. As of Dec. 31, 2008, the terrorist watchlist contained more than 1.1 million known or suspected terrorist identities. This report: (1) determines whether subjects of FBI terrorism invest. are appropriately and timely watchlisted and if these records are updated with new info; (2) determines whether subjects of closed FBI terrorism invest. are removed from the terrorist watchlist in a timely manner; and (3) examines the FBI¿s watchlist nomination practices for individuals that were not associated with current terrorism case designations. Illustrations.

Membership in a terrorist org. does not prohibit a person from owning a gun under current law. Thus, during presale screening of prospective firearms purchasers, the Nat. Instant Criminal Background Check System historically did not utilize terrorist watch list records. However, for homeland security & other purposes, the FBI & applicable state agencies began receiving notices when such screening involved watch lists records. This report determined: (1) how many checks have resulted in valid matches with terrorist watch list records, (2) procedures for providing federal counter-terrorism officials relevant info. from valid-match background checks, & (3) the extent to which the FBI monitors or audits the states' handling of such checks. Illus.