Frank Lautenberg: “this morning I rise to introduce a bill to terminate a program that I think has long outlived its usefulness. It is…”

“this morning I rise to introduce a bill to terminate a program that I think has long outlived its usefulness. It is called the Army Civilian Marksmanship Program. It is no secret that I do not like this program. In fact, I offered an amendment to terminate it in the last Congress. It got 30 votes. The arguments then may not have been persuasive. But perhaps recent events will change that. Like everyone else, I read the reports that come out about the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City. And they are shocked by the scope of that tragedy. Every day we hear more and more news about confirmed dead and the fact that the search may in fact have to be abandoned. It is a tragedy that will live on forever in the minds of our democratic society and throughout the world. But in one of these stories, Mr. President, I found information that members of extremist militia groups in this country may have received weapons, ammunition, and training at Army facilities under the auspices of the Civilian Marksmanship Program.”