[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 87 (Friday, May 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           JOHN FEINBLATT TESTIMONY BEFORE CONGRESS--SUPPORT

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to respond to and support the 
testimony by Mr. John Feinblatt, Criminal Justice Coordinator for the 
City of New York before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, 
Domestic Policy Subcommittee on May 10, 2007, regarding illegal guns 
and the Tiahrt amendment.
  First, I applaud Michael Bloomberg for his leadership with reducing 
crime in New York City. Crime fighting is tough and it requires strong 
and bold leadership to be effective.
  Second, I along with other Members of Congress formed the bipartisan 
Congressional Task Force on Illegal Guns in January of 2007. This task 
force was formed during the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Summit held on 
January 23, 2007 in Washington, DC. The bipartisan task force is solely 
concerned about illegal guns and crime control. Let me be clear that 
the task force supports the Second Amendment and believes in protecting 
the rights of responsible and legal gun owners. We oppose the traffic 
in illegal guns which presents a danger to our society.
  Third, to begin to address the problems associated with crime and 
illegal guns, members of the task force and other Members of Congress 
sent a letter to the leadership of the Commerce Justice and Science 
Subcommittee requesting Mr. Mollahan and Mr. Frelinghuysen to change 
the language in the Tiahrt Amendment.
  We support providing local law enforcement agencies with the tools 
and information they need to fight crime, particularly getting 
information on gun trace data.
  Lastly, day in and day out, reports are aired in local and national 
media outlets about people being wounded and killed by guns. I'm 
certain that the vast majority of those incidents are committed with 
illegal guns. This is deeply troubling and disheartening to me. Action 
is needed and it is needed now.

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