Melvin Watt: “I just want to point out as I read this amendment, it is not limited to any Federal issue. In the last crime bill that…”

“I just want to point out as I read this amendment, it is not limited to any Federal issue. In the last crime bill that this body passed, we made carjacking, whether the car went interstate or not interstate, a Federal offense. We made drive-by shooting, whether the bullet was fired across State lines or not, a Federal offense. Now, apparently under this amendment, we would make any multiple killing, manslaughter, any kind of circumstances, a Federal offense. Where are the people who for so long in this body have been advocating for States rights? Where have you gone? This is not an issue that ought to be a Federal issue. If we are going to do it for Federal offenses, at least limit it to Federal offenses and not State offenses.”