[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GUNS AND THE MARIANAS

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                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2016

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, people I represent in the Northern Marianas 
are concerned that guns could become more common in our islands, more 
easily obtained, and a threat to public safety. We do have guns: for 
hunting, for target practice. Police officers carry weapons. And we 
have had tragedies: a child shot accidentally, a mass murder/suicide. 
But generally people feel safe. We do not worry that someone may get a 
gun and use it for the wrong reasons. That feeling of safety changed 
recently. The federal court ruled that the Supreme Court's Heller 
decision applied in our islands; and people had a right to keep a 
handgun in their home. I understand that decision. The second amendment 
applies in our islands. We voted to make it apply, when we joined the 
United States forty years ago. But the people I represent do not want 
to see handguns everywhere in our community. We certainly do not want 
the kind of assault rifles that terrorists use--most recently in 
Orlando. And our local legislature has taken action to limit handguns 
and ban assault rifles. I support those actions. I support the right of 
small communities like my own to decide for themselves about guns.

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