[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 40 (Tuesday, April 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PASS ``SAFE'' FOR A SAFER AMERICA

  (Mr. ACKERMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, it seems inconceivable that convicted 
felons, including those who have committed violent crimes using guns, 
could get out of prison and could, under the law, buy guns yet again. I 
raise the question, who is being protected by this law, convicted 
felons, or law abiding citizens?
  Each year since fiscal year 1993 we in Congress have stopped funding 
this guns for convicted felons program. However, this is insufficient, 
because as the law is still on the books, even unfunded, felons can go 
to court and regain their firearm privileges.
  To stop this from happening, we should eliminate the guns for 
convicted felons program outright.
  Today, along with the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella] and 
the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. McCarthy], I am introducing the 
Stop Arming Felons Act, or the SAFE Act. The Ackerman-Morella-McCarthy 
legislation will eliminate guns for convicted felons altogether. It 
sends a clear message that we should make it harder, not easier, for 
criminals to have access to weapons.
  The Stop Arming Felons Act is bipartisan and has 32 original 
cosponsors, and I urge all of my colleagues to act in the interest of 
this country and let us stop arming convicted felons.

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