[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 86 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H4618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REINSTATE ASSAULT WEAPONS 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. Madam Speaker, assault weapons go back on 
to our streets in 84 days. These weapons of war mow down our police 
officers and destroy families every day.
  Just last week, an SKS assault rifle, and this is what it looks like, 
mowed down three police officers in Alabama and killed them. The SKS 
can fire up to 35 rounds per minute and pierce police body armor. 
Montgomery Police Chief John Wilson confirmed that the vests that the 
officers wore offered almost no protection against this high-powered 
assault rifle.
  Fifty-eight-year-old Carlos Owen, with 26 years on the force and 
nearing retirement, never had a chance. He and two of his fellow 
officers died in a hail of bullets.
  But that has not stopped the National Rifle Association from engaging 
in their old dirty tricks. The NRA Web site says data from police 
experts must be deliberately avoided by those pushing assault weapons 
bills. Actually, the data is pretty clear on assault weapons. In one of 
every five police-officer killings, an assault weapon is the choice.
  The NRA is so blind to the truth on assault weapons that they are 
also engaged in a smear campaign against Jim and Sara Brady. The 
Brady's ``error''? Telling the truth about President Reagan's former 
support for the assault weapons ban in a television interview. The NRA 
called their interview ``shameless'' and ``deliberate misinformation.''
  As we continue to remember President Reagan, I would like to set the 
record straight on his contributions to gun safety. The importation of 
rapid-fire shot guns was first outlawed under President Reagan.
  In 1994, he joined former Presidents Ford and Carter in calling on 
Congress to pass the assault weapons ban.
  During the close vote on the assault weapons ban that year, President 
Reagan made calls to undecided Members urging for a ``yes'' vote.
  The ban passed by two votes, and at least one Member said Reagan's 
call prompted him to vote ``yes.''
  President Reagan knew the importance of keeping military-style 
weapons off our streets and out of our communities.
  The assault weapons ban is a commonsense law that almost all 
Americans, gun owners included, do support. It is unfortunate that the 
NRA feels more strongly about firing up its membership than telling the 
truth.
  Let me say this: each day that comes closer to having this assault 
weapons ban expire is each day we come closer to seeing deaths in our 
communities and on our streets. I have never tried to do anything to 
take away someone's right to own a gun, but I do know assault weapons 
do not belong on our streets. That is a responsibility that all 
Americans, in my opinion, and gun owners should take upon themselves.
  The American people can do something about this. They can contact 
their Congressman, their Senator, and certainly the White House. 
President Bush has promised to sign the assault weapons ban if it gets 
on his desk. We know that this Congress has to have the bill up on the 
floor so we can have a vote on it before it will ever get to the 
President's desk.
  I am asking the President for his help. I am asking him to start 
calling on the Members of Congress, as President Reagan did, and let us 
get this assault weapons ban in place. Let us make sure our police 
officers are not put into more risk than they already have to be in.
  When we talk about possible terror cells in this country, do we 
actually want gangs, drug dealers, possibly terrorists being able to 
get assault weapons? This is not what America is. Assault weapons 
belong in the hands of only our military. They are guns that are used 
to mow down people as fast as possible. Why do we need these guns? Let 
us not forget the large-capacity clips. Right now, under the ban, clips 
are only supposed to hold 10 bullets. If this ban goes back to the way 
it was, we can have 35, we can have 50, we can have 100, whatever the 
clip will hold. That is not where we want to be.
  I strongly urge the American people to get involved in this.

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