[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 87 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S7284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE POWERFUL GUN LOBBY

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, while we talk about the actions in the 
other body, it is fascinating to me what has happened in the dark of 
night. The members of the other body aren't controlling their destiny; 
it apparently was controlled by a powerful lobby in this country. For a 
while, the same thing happened in the U.S. Senate. I asked the question 
on the floor of the Senate: ``Who will run the Senate, the U.S. 
Senators or the powerful gun lobby?'' Finally, by the slimmest of 
margins, they answered the question and said that the U.S. Senate will 
represent the people of America.
  I have watched how posturing and symbolism sometimes wins out over 
substance. Members of the other body are all sworn to uphold the 
Constitution of the United States. They have taken the same oath that I 
and every Member of the Senate have taken. They flew in the face of the 
Constitution, a Supreme Court decision outlined in the Constitution, 
and said that we, the Members of the Congress, will say the 10 
commandments shall be or may be put on schoolhouse walls.
  Why did the House of Representatives do this and turn against the 
Constitution that they are sworn to uphold? Why? So that the students 
seeing it would be inspired to uphold the law. That's fascinating. We 
say that the other body will--the House of Representatives--will turn 
its back on the Constitution, and in so doing will encourage children 
who should look to them for leadership to uphold the laws of this 
country. It is an example that I cannot fathom. This is what they ought 
to do--work harder and make it possible for the parents of these 
children to spend more time with them, make it possible to have an 
educational system that can help teach the difference between right and 
wrong. Perhaps, if they are going to talk about the 10 commandments, 
they should remind the gun lobby of the fifth commandment: Thou shalt 
not kill.

                          ____________________