[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1657-E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ISSUES FACING YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 9, 1998

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to have printed in the Record 
this statement by a high school student from my home state of Vermont, 
who was speaking at my recent town meeting on issues facing young 
people today. I am asking that you please insert this statement in the 
Congressional Record as I believe that the views of this young person 
will benefit my colleagues.

           Statement by Abigail Nessen Regarding Gun Control

       Ms. NESSEN. I believe that our forefathers had the right 
     idea. Their wish was to create a safe and free nation for all 
     of us to live in, and they wrote this to prove it: ``We the 
     people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect 
     union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, 
     provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare,

[[Page E1658]]

     and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our 
     posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the 
     United States of America.''
       These are beautiful words. But more than beautiful, they 
     can be used and enforced to create a more perfect union. But 
     our country is at a time in its history when the words 
     ``domestic tranquility'' and ``general welfare'' seem to 
     signify things of the past.
       I am here today to talk to you about guns. The widespread 
     availability of these weapons is frightening and wrong. 
     Thousand are killed every year in our country by guns bought 
     legally, guns made not to hunt animals but to hunt humans. 
     Many have killed or have been killed by the time they reach 
     my age, if they ever do.
       I am a strict constructionist when it comes to the preamble 
     and the Second Amendment, meaning I believe that our 
     forefathers wrote just what they meant. They meant for the 
     Constitution to create domestic tranquility and general 
     welfare and, especially, common defense. I believe--I know--
     that the guns that are available today do none of these 
     things. I believe and I know that our forefathers would 
     agree, because I refuse to think that the intentions of the 
     ones who wrote the Constitution was to put lethal weapons in 
     the hands of every person who wanted one. That is not ``a 
     well regulated militia.'' No, their intention was to ensure 
     the safety and freedom of us, their posterity.
       I proposed that we follow the words of the preamble and of 
     our constitution. I proposed that we take a step to make our 
     nation safe again, for me and for the children I want to have 
     some day. I propose we remove the guns from our streets, our 
     homes and our hands.
       Congressman Sanders. Thank you very much.

       

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