[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3434]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015

                            GUNS OVER PEOPLE

  (Mr. GUTIERREZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, during the past year did we not hear the 
Republicans say something about the rule of law? I think I recall some 
Republicans saying everyone deserves his or her day in court, even if 
it means tying up Congress, the White House and the judiciary, costs 
the taxpayers $40 million, huge legal bills for everyone. But when it 
comes to their good friends in the gun lobby and their precious time 
and money, well, the Republicans simply will not allow them to be 
threatened with a lawsuit or held accountable through civil action.
  Mr. Speaker, once again the GOP does the bidding of the National 
Rifle Association, preempting cities like Chicago who dare to sue the 
gun industry, the modern-day merchants of vengeance. A Republican bill 
will be introduced limiting lawsuits against the gun makers, ironically 
sponsored by the same gentleman who once told the Committee on the 
Judiciary a plaintiff deserved her day in court. In the eyes of the 
GOP, a sitting President can be dragged into a civil suit, but not the 
gun industry.
  Clearly, the Republicans care more about guns than people. I guess 
that is what GOP stands for: ``Guns Over People.''

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