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May 14, 2007 11:27 am US/Eastern
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Federal Lawmakers Visit Fort Dix
Plan To Promote Security, Gun Laws
FORT DIX, N.J. (CBS/AP) ―
Two federal lawmakers were visiting Fort Dix on Monday to promote security and gun laws one week after six men were charged with planning an attack on the installation.
U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg and Rep. Jim Saxton were scheduled to tour the base and be briefed about the alleged plot to attack soldiers on the post, which is mostly used to train reservists.
The suspects -- Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer, 22; Serdar Tatar, 23; Dritan "Anthony" or "Tony" Duka, 28; Shain Duka, 26; Eljvir "Elvis" Duka, 23 and Agron Abdullahu, 24 -- were arrested May 7. Authorities said they had been following the men for more than a year and decided to move in because they believed the suspects were trying to buy automatic weapons to use in an attack.
Five of the men were charged with conspiring to kill military officers and face life in prison if they are convicted. Abdullahu is charged with weapons offenses and faces 10 years in prison if he is found guilty.
All six men are being held without bail.
The lawmakers believe the case shows why the bills they are supporting are needed. Lautenberg, D-N.J., is sponsoring a bill that would make it illegal to sell guns to people suspected of being terrorists. Saxton, R-N.J., is calling for heightened security at domestic military installations nationwide.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)