Alcee Hastings: “I rise today to express my extreme disappointment with the majority leadership of this Congress for revisiting the…”

“I rise today to express my extreme disappointment with the majority leadership of this Congress for revisiting the assault weapons ban which passed the House in 1994. I think it fair to say that we are considering legislation to repeal the law today because the majority leaders 'owe' the gun lobby. This is just one more example of how our agenda is being driven by interest groups with big pacs. I am also shocked that the leadership has so thoroughly circumvented the committee process on this legislation. We should have had hearings. Before we consider repealing the law we should first know if it has been successful. What do our police officers think? Do they want to see the ban repealed? Has it helped save lives? Has it been effective? It is absolutely absurd and outrageous that there has been no consideration or debate of this issue. Mr. Speaker, I believe in self-defense. However, I do not believe one needs an AK-47 to defend himself. AK-47s can shoot 106 rounds in 2 minutes. They are high speed machine guns that have been used for shooting sprees. Patrick Purdy, using an AK-47, killed 5 small children and their teacher, while wounding 29 others on a playground in Stockton, CA. What about the defense of these children? Whose concern is that? Those of us and who support the assault weapons ban are trying to make the world a little safer for our children.”