Alcee Hastings: “I would urge my colleague that just spoke that the many people that I know, and they are numerous in my State and…”

“I would urge my colleague that just spoke that the many people that I know, and they are numerous in my State and elsewhere that were killed by guns and are advocates against guns, are not fanatics. They are people who are victims of murder. Additionally, I thought I made it clear, I wish to make it clear again, that insofar as the second amendment is concerned, everyone that I know in this body is protective of a person's right to own a gun. The fact of the matter is that manufacturers who act irresponsibly should be sued by persons if they so choose when that harm comes to them. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy). Mrs. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving me this opportunity to speak out against this rule. I have been here about 8\1/ 2\ years now, and I came here without any political experience. But history had taught me that we, as Americans, certainly fight for our democracy all of the time. Yet over the years, I have seen democracy, especially in this great House, deteriorate continuously. I have seen where we go up to the Rules Committee continuously, because I always thought that when you came down to this great House, the whole idea was to have debate. And yet I see debate being challenged constantly. Important issues that come on to this floor, the minority is not allowed to debate them, nor are we allowed to offer any kind of amendments to hopefully make a bill better.…”