On the recordJuly 29, 2022
I represent a southern State. Many of my constituents are responsible, law-abiding gun owners, and I support their ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Contrary to what opponents of this legislation continue to claim, this bill will allow current, law-abiding gun owners to keep all of their guns. It simply prevents future sales of assault rifles. Let's be clear: Assault weapons are designed to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. They are not designed for recreation. They are designed for combat. It is incredibly irresponsible to allow people without specialized training to possess these weapons. Madam Speaker, when assault weapons are used in mass shootings, on average, six times as many people are shot as in other mass shootings. In 2022, there have already been 24 school shootings. The deadliest, in Uvalde, Texas, involved an assault weapon. But if my friends across the aisle are not convinced of the need to protect our children, perhaps they will be convinced of the need to protect the police. According to Violence Policy Center, one quarter of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2016 were killed by an assault weapon. After the assault weapons ban expired, the proportion of large- capacity-magazine-equipped guns used in murders of police increased by 30 percent. These weapons belong with our military, not on our streets or in our schools.…
