[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 120 (Sunday, August 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1440
 
         AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT A TOUGH AND REALISTIC CRIME BILL

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, the American people want a tough and 
realistic crime bill. Tough in that it punishes those who commit crimes 
that threaten the personal security of every American. But realistic in 
that crime prevention is our greatest safeguard to personal security.
  We cannot have a tough and realistic crime bill without an assault 
weapons ban.
  Mr. Speaker, much has been said in this debate in the name of 
hunters. In all fairness to hunters, I believe they have gotten a bad 
rap. Many hunters are calling my office to dissociate themselves from 
the NRA's promotion of assault weapons. Frankly, they are embarrassed 
that the NRA would say that the weapons banned in this legislation have 
any use in hunting. These sportsmen do not want their legitimate 
concerns about hunting regulation to be hijacked by the NRA's assault 
weapon lobby.
  It is not enough to offer our condolences to the families of the 
victims. It is not enough to punish the people who caused the death of 
their loved ones. This offers small comfort to Steve Sposato, Michelle 
Scully, Carol Kingsley, and the other friends of the victims of violent 
crime.
  Saving the lives of innocent men, women, and children, would be the 
best legacy we can offer these families. Preventing access to weapons 
whose only purpose is to kill, and kill easily, will make the lives of 
all Americans safer. Then, we will start to bring to an end the tragic 
rollcall of victims of violent crime.

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