Tom Lantos: “the American people are urgently waiting for the Congress to take meaningful action on gun safety control--and the…”

“the American people are urgently waiting for the Congress to take meaningful action on gun safety control--and the American people are not patient on this issue, Mr. Speaker. Despite repeated requests from our Democratic colleagues in this body and repeated requests of the Democratic members of the conference committee on H.R. 1501, the Juvenile Justice legislation, we are still awaiting action by the Republican leadership and the Republican members of the conference. I strongly support the motion to instruct conferees that is being offered by my distinguished colleague and fellow Californian, Ms. Lofgren. Her motion instructs the conferees to hold its first substantive meeting within the next two weeks. As President Clinton has said: "How many more people have to get killed before we do something?" The Senate adopted gun safety measures that close loopholes on our gun laws. The American people are strongly supportive of the type of provisions that are under consideration in this legislation. Now is the time for the conference committee to bring legislation back to this House. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the will of the American people to be respected in the Congress of the United States, and it is time for us to tell the reprehensible representatives of the National Rifle Association that the will of the American people will prevail over the narrow special interests of groups like the NRA.”