[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19724-19725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          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. Two weeks ago, this House stood idly as 
the federal ban on assault weapons expired. The House ignored two-
thirds of the public, over half of gun-owners, and nearly every law 
enforcement organization in America in favor of the NRA's leadership's 
extreme agenda against common sense.
  Fortunately, I live in a state that enforces its own assault weapons 
ban. While the state ban is not as effective a tool as the federal ban 
was to keep personal weapons of mass destruction out of the hand of 
criminals and terrorists, it does make it more difficult for them to 
acquire assault weapons.
  However, this week the House leadership, which pretends to be a 
friend of the sovereignty of state and local governments, will allow a 
vote on a bill keeping popularly elected officials form banning assault 
weapons and other guns from their jurisdictions.
  This week the House will vote on legislation introduced by a member 
from Indiana ending the ban on firearms in the District of Columbia. 
The popularly elected Mayor, City Council, and U.S. Delegate to the 
House all oppose ending the ban. Federal courts have upheld the 
constitutionality of the DC ban. In fact, the only support for ending 
the DC gun ban comes from politicians that do not represent the 
District.
  The District will go from having the toughest gun laws in America, to 
becoming the subject of a twisted social experiment brought to us by 
the NRA. Those listed on terrorist watch lists prohibited form boarding 
planes at Reagan National Airport will be able to purchase a handgun, 
AK-47, or TEC-9 only blocks away from the White House or Capitol 
Building. Just today, I received a letter from the House Sergeant at 
Arms detailing the new security recommendations put in place to keep 
our offices safe. Passage of this legislation cannot be

[[Page 19725]]

viewed as anything other than counterproductive to these efforts.
  Proponents of this legislation say the DC ban has not been effective, 
citing the District's crime rates, which are not unlike many other 
large urban communities in the United State. However, the homicide rate 
in the District is at an all time low, thanks to the Metropolitan 
Police Department's efforts to get guns off the streets. The DC ban has 
been a valuable took in these efforts, but once again House leadership 
refuses to listen to those most effected by the ban's end.
  Granted, the DC gun ban's effectiveness has been hampered by the 
District's proximity to gun dealers in Virginia and Maryland, but that 
is no excuse to make it easier for criminals and terrorists to purchase 
guns in DC.
  And while the House leadership's grasp of basic economic principles 
has been questionable throughout the 108th Congress, one must 
acknowledge that once the supply of guns is increased, the prices of 
these weapons will decrease.
  Thanks to this legislation, gang members who could only afford to 
purchase one gun will most likely be able to get two thanks to 
increased supply and lower prices.
  It it only a matter of time before the first crimes are committed 
with a gun purchased legally in our nation's capital. When that time 
occurs, the House Leadership must be prepared to explain to the victims 
of these crimes why it is so important that the NRA's twisted worldview 
must come before DC residents' wishes and safety.

                          ____________________