Christopher Shays: “Mr. Speaker, Americans have the constitutional right to bear arms and the Government has the constitutional…”

“Mr. Speaker, Americans have the constitutional right to bear arms and the Government has the constitutional responsibility to regulate that right. Repeal of the assault weapons ban was not and is not part of the Contract With America. It never got past the first cut. Our Contract With America is about balancing our Federal budget, getting our financial house in order, saving our trust funds from bankruptcy for future generations, and transforming our caretaking, social and corporate welfare society into a caring opportunity society. Logical gun control legislation and strong crime control are not mutually exclusive. We need both. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, this bill.”