[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the House will consider H.R. 4296 
which seeks to further restrict the right to own a firearm.
  The effect this bill will be on is the law abiding citizen who is 
being told that while the criminal is the problem, the Federal 
government's solution is to restrict the rights of American citizens.
  A few years ago the Federal Government told the American people that 
it only wanted to restrict the importation of assault weapons. Now, the 
Government wants to restrict the weapons made in the United States. Let 
me read to you a portion of a letter from Treasury Secretary Bentsen 
referencing the list of firearms which appear to meet the definition of 
semiautomatic assault weapons. He writes, ``The list was compiled from 
currently advertised firearms and should not be considered to be all 
inclusive.''
  I submit this body could do more good for the country if it focused 
its attention on those whose behavior breaks the law, rather then 
restricting the legitimate rights of those who abide by them.

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