[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT

  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to address the House and to 
revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, crime is a huge problem in the American 
society today. When asked to name the most important problem facing our 
country, 22 percent, a plurality, point to crime, gangs, and the 
justice system. One out of five say that is what the trouble is. It is 
not surprising that 85 percent of the American people favor lifetime 
jail sentences with no chance of parole for anyone convicted of three 
or more violent crimes. Three or more violent crimes, and we are going 
to let them out?
  The contract with America goes several steps further with the Taking 
Back Our Streets Act. Clinton's crime bill is riddled with new social 
programs which greatly contribute to the $30 billion price tag, but we 
know that coddling young criminals does not solve the crime problem.
  We propose truth-in-sentencing and real prisons. This mean when a 
criminal goes to prison he will not be allowed to leave after he has 
only served a third of his sentence. The place he will be incarcerated 
is not going to be the Club Med for convicts.
  Rather than make it more difficult for our law-abiding citizens to 
purchase a handgun, let us talk about taking back our streets by 
putting a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for the use of a gun 
during a State or Federal felony. That is the way to get tough on 
crime. That is what we need now. The Republicans know the answer.

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