Joel Hefley: “over the last few days, I've contacted local law enforcement in my congressional district and asked them this question…”

“over the last few days, I've contacted local law enforcement in my congressional district and asked them this question: During the last 3 years, how many killings in your jurisdiction have involved the use of a semi-automatic assault weapon? The answer I received was ``zero''. While I realize that on rare occasions, killings have occurred as a result of a semiautomatic assault weapon, bottom line is the passage of this bill will have no impact on the growing crime problems we have in this country. Instead of demagoging about gun control, we should be focusing our energy on passing laws that will have an impact on crime. Like truth-in-sentencing reform, habeas corpus reform, and a workable death penalty. But the White House and the leadership in Congress won't hear of it. Instead they're trying to use this issue to posture. The crime bill that just passed the House is not the answer this country is looking for to solve the problems we face. Neither is gun control. I think the American people will see we are not serious about crime.”