Deborah Koff Ross: “I rise today and join 43 of my Democratic colleagues to voice my support for H.R. 3193, a bill that would allow citizens…”

“I rise today and join 43 of my Democratic colleagues to voice my support for H.R. 3193, a bill that would allow citizens of the District of Columbia to own rifles, shotguns and handguns. The second amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America specifically grants all Americans the right to bear arms in order to protect themselves and their families. Under this bill, Washington, D.C. citizens would simply have the same self-defense rights as residents of the 50 States of America do. In a New York Sun editorial printed on Thursday, September 23 of this year, a D.C. resident expressed his concerns on not being able to legally protect his home from intruders. He stated, 'The fact is, if you have an intruder come to your home, there is nothing you can do to protect yourself except wait for the police.' This Washington, D.C. resident went on to describe an incident where he stared and waited as a man was attempting to break into his home. This is absolutely inexcusable. No one, no one, should be forced to sit and wait while witnessing an intrusion upon their home, upon their family, possibly putting themselves and their family in danger.”