Fred Heineman: “today I rise for two purposes: first, to inform my colleagues that H.R. 125 has been substantially changed through…”

“today I rise for two purposes: first, to inform my colleagues that H.R. 125 has been substantially changed through language that I was privileged to include in the bill yesterday; second, to explain why this language improves this legislation. The 1994 weapons ban was simply misguided legislation and cosmetic. The 1994 bill penalizes those who lawfully own firearms and at the same time ignores those individuals who commit crimes with firearms. My language corrects the 1994 bill by imposing severe sentences on individuals who carry, display, or use firearms during the commission of a crime. The language also incorporates a balance between public safety and the right to bear arms by law-abiding citizens. With the language included in H.R. 125, this bill will rain thunder, not cosmetics, on those individuals who carry, display, or use firearms during the committing of a crime. I ask my colleagues to vote for H.R. 125. With the Heineman language included, H.R. 125 is now effective crime legislation, and I join my colleagues in stating that the Southern States PBA, comprised of 16,000 police officers, does not support the ban.”