[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 91 (Friday, July 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

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                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2000

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, it was my intention to vote ``yea'' on 
rollcall vote No. 324, the H. Amdt. 905 to HR 4690, offered by 
Representative John Hostetler, but was recorded as voting ``nay.'' The 
amendment was designed to add a new section, which provides that no 
funds in the bill may be used to enforce, implement, or administer the 
provisions of the settlement document dated March 17, 2000, between 
Smith and Wesson and the Department of the Treasury.
  The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution dearly defines 
the right of Americans to possess firearms. The Second Amendment reads: 
``A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free 
State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be 
infringed.'' I firmly believe this provision prohibits the federal 
government from denying citizens this right.
  The agreement reached by the Administration and Smith & Wesson should 
not be used to coerce other manufacturers into abiding by an agreement 
of which they are not a party. On June 21, 2000, I voted to limit the 
repercussions of this Smith & Wesson agreement by supporting two of 
Representative Hostetler's amendments to the VA-HLD Appropriations bill 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001. It is my intention to vote in favor of 
similar amendments to future FY 2001 Appropriations bills.

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