[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 149 (Thursday, September 18, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1844-E1845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL CAPITAL SECURITY AND SAFETY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 2008

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 6842) to 
     require the District of Columbia to revise its laws regarding 
     the use and possession of firearms as necessary to comply 
     with the requirements of the decision of the Supreme Court in 
     the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, in a manner that 
     protects the security interests of the Federal Government and 
     the people who work in, reside in, or visit the District of 
     Columbia and does not undermine

[[Page E1845]]

     the efforts of law enforcement, homeland security, and 
     military officials to protect the Nation's Capital from crime 
     and terrorism:

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 6842, the National Capital Security and Safety Act and in 
opposition of the Childers substitute. H.R. 6842 is a commonsense bill 
that requires the District of Columbia to revise its gun laws in order 
to comply with the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the case of 
District Columbia v. Heller within 6 months and does not violate Home 
Rule and the self governance of the District of Columbia.
  Over 30 years ago, the District banned the ownership of handguns, 
making it among the stiffest bans in the Nation. Like many large 
metropolitan areas, gun violence contributes to the high crime rates in 
the District, but the ban has helped to reduce homicide rates. Instead 
of working to increase the number of guns in the District, we should be 
helping to stem the availability of these weapons and protecting 
District residents and visitors from the threat of violence. This 
Congress should not be dictating to the District of Columbia the laws 
that govern them when their own elected delegate does not even have the 
right to vote on her own bill or its substitute.
  The Childers substitute is dangerous. It both ignores the will of 
District residents and puts more guns on the street of our Nation's 
Capital. The Childers substitute repeals a ban on semi-automatic 
weapons and removes the ban on carrying these weapons in public, 
prohibits registration requirements for most guns, and drops criminal 
penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm.
  Mr. Chairman, Congress must not strip the District of its power to 
regulate guns. We must not be reckless when it comes to protecting the 
citizens of D.C., our highest elected officials, and visitors to our 
Nation's Capital. I urge a vote in favor of the Norton bill and 
strongly urge a ``no'' vote on the Childers substitute which severely 
puts the safety of the District at risk.

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