[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H3936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RENEWING THE ASSAULT WEAPON BAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, assault weapons go back on to 
the streets of America in 3 months. Time is running out to protect our 
police officers, our communities and our children. After September 13, 
criminals, drug dealers and gangs will be able to go and buy their 
assault weapons.
  In this past week, we certainly brought back memories of President 
Ronald Reagan. I remember his contributions to gun safety. He 
understood the dangers of assault weapons, which is why he ushered in 
one of the first bans on military-style weapons, banning the 
importation of rapid fire shotguns. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush 
expanded this list to include 43 other assault weapons.
  By 1994, with the country facing, unfortunately, a wave of mass 
shootings throughout this country, Congress finally banned the 
production or sale of new assault weapons. In a joint letter to the 
House Members pushing for passage of the ban, former President Reagan 
said, ``We urge you to listen to the American public and to the law 
enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of 
these weapons.'' As usual, President Reagan said it best.
  Renewing the assault weapon ban is about the safety of our police, 
our children and our communities. Congress only has 28 more working 
days in which to renew the assault weapon ban.
  Let me say this: When you think about the American people, when you 
think about police throughout this country, who are now lobbying the 
Members of Congress and the Senate to have this bill come up on the 
floor for a vote, and yet we still hear nothing. President Bush today 
has actually said that he would sign the bill if it gets on his desk.
  Let me say this: This House needs to bring the bill up on to the 
floor for a vote so that it can go to the President's desk. The 
American people have to get involved in this issue. They have to 
contact their Members of Congress in the House and Senate.
  We need to talk about what assault weapons can do. We need to talk 
about what the health care costs will be from the damage done if 
assault weapons are back on our streets. We need to talk about how many 
of our police in the past have been killed because they were outgunned 
because of assault weapons. We need to remember our history to know why 
we passed the assault weapon ban 10 years ago.
  We cannot allow this to sunset. We must make sure the assault weapon 
ban is kept in place. It is for the safety of our communities, our 
children, our police officers. The American people are always saying 
they have no part in government. You can have a part in government, but 
you have to become involved. You have to have your voices heard.
  I will stand here every Tuesday, Monday, whenever, to make sure that 
the American people hear this message.
  Today, June 14, is my son's birthday. Going back 10 years ago, when a 
mad man came onto a train and shot and killed my husband and shot my 
son in the head, we never thought Kevin would live. The criminal at 
that time had large capacity clips which could hold 14 bullets.
  Some say it would not have made any difference on the Long Island 
massacre. Well, with the ban that is in place, even though it is 10 
bullets in a clip, if you could talk to the people at the end of the 
train that lost their lives, if we had the 10-bullet ban in place, if 
we had the assault weapon ban in place, maybe we would have had a few 
of our people that would have lived that day.
  I celebrate my son's birthday. It is a miracle that he is alive. That 
is why I came to Congress, to reduce gun violence in this country. I 
started my career by lobbying to make sure the assault weapon ban got 
in place here in Congress. I will continue to fight to make sure the 
assault weapon ban stays in place.

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