Jon L. Christensen: “two weeks ago this House blocked consideration of legislation sponsored by my colleague from New York, Mrs. McCarthy, to…”

“two weeks ago this House blocked consideration of legislation sponsored by my colleague from New York, Mrs. McCarthy, to extend the ban on the manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons. The assault weapons ban is supported by the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, National Association of Police Organizations, American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Public Health Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Urban League, National Education Association, United Federation of Teachers, Children's Defense Fund, NAACP, Anti-Defamation League, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The House instead today, voted to enact legislation which was introduced by a member from Indiana to get rid of the ban on firearms in the District of Columbia, against the wishes of elected Mayor, City Council, and U.S. Delegate to Congress. Federal courts have upheld the constitutionality of the DC ban. These actions by this distinguished body distress me greatly because it was just a day ago that a 4-year-old boy was shot to death and a 7-year-old boy was injured in a shooting Monday night at the Kirwan Terrace housing community on St. Thomas in my District.”