Cliff Stearns: “Tomorrow the House will consider H.R. 4296 which seeks to further restrict the right to own a firearm. The effect this…”

“Tomorrow the House will consider H.R. 4296 which seeks to further restrict the right to own a firearm. The effect this bill will be on is the law abiding citizen who is being told that while the criminal is the problem, the Federal government's solution is to restrict the rights of American citizens. A few years ago the Federal Government told the American people that it only wanted to restrict the importation of assault weapons. Now, the Government wants to restrict the weapons made in the United States. Let me read to you a portion of a letter from Treasury Secretary Bentsen referencing the list of firearms which appear to meet the definition of semiautomatic assault weapons. He writes, "The list was compiled from currently advertised firearms and should not be considered to be all inclusive." I submit this body could do more good for the country if it focused its attention on those whose behavior breaks the law, rather than restricting the legitimate rights of those who abide by them.”