Byron Dorgan: “this morning I was watching a morning television show and heard a report that was dumbfounding to me. It was a report on…”

“this morning I was watching a morning television show and heard a report that was dumbfounding to me. It was a report on a decision by an appellate court of New York State dealing with a young man who had brought a gun to school. The gun had been discovered and taken from the youth. The boy was expelled from school. This case has made its way through the New York court system to the appellate court, which ruled Tuesday that the security guard had acted improperly in removing the gun from the boy who was in a school. I came to the office this morning after hearing that report and asked for some information about the appellate court decision and got it. I read through it and there are times when you scratch your head and wonder why there are people serving in public office in any branch of government who are so completely devoid of common sense. I read this decision and wondered how anyone could really have decided that it is all right for a boy to carry a gun in school and not be punished for it. There is a law on the books now, the Gun-Free Schools Act, that says schools must have zero tolerance for guns in our Nation's classrooms and hallways. I wrote it. I, along with the Senator from California, Senator Feinstein, wrote this legislation that is now law. It says with respect to the issue of guns in schools, we are sending a message that is very clear anywhere in America.…”