Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I wish to revisit my discussion with Senator Durbin yesterday regarding my amendment No. 3925 to the Department of Veterans Affairs funding bill. As I made clear yesterday, this is a commonsense amendment protecting constitutional rights. It is designed to make every effort to ensure that the Second Amendment rights of veterans are protected under the law. Yet the Democrats have objected. Because of that, our veterans will continue to not be protected by their Second Amendment constitutional rights. Let me make myself very clear. Senator Durbin said my amendment ``doesn't solve the problem.'' ``Doesn't solve the problem'' are his words. Well, the Department of Veterans Affairs is reporting names to the Department of Justice which are then placed on the national gun ban list, and the VA is doing so merely when a veteran is appointed a fiduciary--which does not mean he or she is dangerous. That is the problem. As I explained yesterday, my amendment requires the VA to first determine that a veteran is a danger to self or others before reporting names. That simply solves the problem. Senator Durbin also said that under my amendment, ``mental health determinations would no longer count as prohibiting gun possession.'' As I stated yesterday, I do not want people who are known to be dangerous to own and possess firearms. My amendment makes that very clear.…”