[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     THE CRIME BILL MISSES ITS MARK

  (Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the 
Conference Report on H.R. 3355, the Omnibus Crime Control Act.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill has missed its mark. The overall aim of a 
crime package should be on getting tough on criminals. Its aim should 
be on deterring the rate of crime in this country. Unfortunately, the 
crime bill does not do that.
  The crime bill falls short because it punishes all American citizens 
by banning the possession and manufacture of certain semi automatic 
firearms. The conference report begins to take away the rights of law-
abiding citizens which are protected by the second amendment.
  This is not the aim that the crime efforts in this country should 
take. We cannot fight crime at the expense of our rights as American 
citizens. In fact, criminals will laugh at gun control--they will have 
their guns, no matter what gun regulations are legislated.
  Now, there are a few provisions in the crime bill that are not that 
bad. There are programs such as funding for State and local law 
enforcement grant programs, a truth in sentencing provision, and money 
for prisons.
  But as a whole, this bill does not hit the target. This bill 
penalizes upstanding, honest Americans.
  Moreover, H.R. 3355 is a spending bill, with over $9 billion 
earmarked for new social programs.
  Now this is completely off the mark.
  Mr. Speaker, the folks in my district are like those in yours--they 
are deeply concerned about the safety of their homes and neighborhoods. 
Unfortunately, a crime package that takes away freedoms of law abiding 
Americans instead of getting tough on criminals, will only make the 
problem worse.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the crime bill conference 
report.

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