[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 119 (Saturday, August 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             NO SUBSTANCE TO THE CRIME BILL--ALL SYMBOLISM

  (Mr. BACHUS of Alabama asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BACHUS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to addressing gun 
violence in this country and expanding the death penalty, the crime 
bill that we will vote on today is a pure symbolic gesture. There is no 
substance to it.
  Why do I say it does not address gun violence and why do I say it is 
only symbolism? Because, as the gentleman from Ohio said, there were 25 
people killed by guns last year, shot, and how many of those were by 
assault weapons? Less than 1 percent. Some people estimate 2 out of 
998. That is only 2 out of 998, and how about the other 998?
  We on this side asked that in these cases a 10-year minimum sentence 
be included in this bill for anyone using a handgun in the commission 
of a crime, and that was rejected. This bill is symbolism.
  And how about the death penalty? Will this really expand the death 
penalty as we are being told? No. There will probably be one case every 
3 years. When is the last time the Federal courts executed someone?
  Mr. Speaker, it is pure symbolism. There is no substance, no real 
expansion of the death penalty.

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