Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, after months of serious deliberation and discussion with Members on both sides of the aisle, conservatives and liberals, I have decided that this ban on a limited and specific group of violent assault weapons adequately protects Second Amendment rights while recognizing that there is absolutely no justification or need for anyone to have ready access to Uzi's and street sweepers nor any other semiautomatic weapons designed exclusively for mass murder. Times are changing in our country. I fear not all for the best. The growing violence, murders of our law enforcement officers and innocent children cannot be ignored. That is why I voted against the rule, because I felt we needed to have stricter punishments for those who use guns in crimes. But the fact is that true sportsmen and sportswomen do not use sophisticated war machines to mow down animals. Average citizens, protecting their property and family, do not use Uzis and street sweepers to defend their homes. These weapons are used by criminals to overcome the innocent and to overcome our police officers in the line of their duty. I am committed to defending the second amendment rights, and that is why I struggled with this ban.”