[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               GUN SAFETY

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, on October 16, 2000, Mr. Charlton 
Heston, President of the National Rifle Association (NRA), gave a 
speech at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On the campaign 
trial in Michigan, Mr. Heston asserted that Vice President Al Gore's 
position on guns had changed and suggested that ``in any other time or 
place, you'd be looking for a lynching mob.''
  Such inflammatory and extremist remarks are an outrage. The NRA 
itself should condemn them. The fact that an average of ten children 
suffer gun-related deaths each day demands that we work together to end 
gun violence, yet Mr. Heston's comments serve only to further polarize 
the debate over guns and gun safety.
  Although some in the crowd at the NRA rally in October may have been 
in support of Mr. Heston's rhetoric, the majority of people in Michigan 
reject the hate that was exuded by NRA's leader that October day in 
Michigan. In November, voters in Michigan also demonstrated that they 
oppose the tactics of the gun lobby and voters around the country 
voiced their support for gun safety measures, such as closing the gun 
show loophole that gives youth and criminals illegitimate access to 
firearms.
  Mr. President, the American people have called on all of us to work 
toward decreasing the amount of gun violence in their schools and 
communities, and I am hopeful that the 107th Congress will be able to 
respond to their call by passing responsible gun safety 
legislation.




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