Political Quotes

“I rise to cosponsor Senator Helms' bill to amend section 924 of title 18 of the United States Code. This bill would ensure that stiff, mandatory sentences are imposed on criminals who possess firearms while committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense. As currently written, title 18 of section 924(c) already mandates that a sentence of 5 years or more be imposed on any defendant who uses or carries a firearm while committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense. Over the past several years, however, courts have struggled with the issue of whether a defendant uses a weapon for purposes of section 924(c) if he technically possesses the weapon but does not actually employ it in committing the underlying offense. This issue was recently taken up by the Supreme Court in the case of Bailey versus United States.…”