Randall Cunningham: “I empathize with folks who are not aware of the problems we have or what the real issues are. They are talking about…”

“I empathize with folks who are not aware of the problems we have or what the real issues are. They are talking about weapons of war. Not a single 1 of these 19 weapons was used by any military in any war. They were not designed as weapons for criminals, yet consistently people say that over and over again. I have flown an F-14 over this Capitol with a 20-millimeter gun that could shoot 6,000 rounds a minute. I could disintegrate this Hall in a half-a-second burst. Yet the gentleman from New York would tell me that I cannot carry a 10-shot .22. So it does go beyond this. Let us take a look at the problem. There are too many guns on the streets. We need to get rid of them. We need instant check systems; we need to limit the number of people who can sell these weapons, and we should find ways to put stiffer penalties on criminals. A drive-by shooter should be charged with first-degree, not second-degree murder, and anyone in a car involved should automatically go to boot camp. Mr. Speaker, let us look at meaningful legislation, not just rhetoric.”