Frank Lautenberg: “Mr. President, my amendment, the domestic violence amendment, establishes a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to…”

“Mr. President, my amendment, the domestic violence amendment, establishes a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to guns and domestic violence. The amendment would prohibit any person convicted of domestic violence from possessing a firearm. In simple words, the amendment says that wife beaters and child abusers should not have guns. Mr. President, I want to explain for a moment why this amendment is needed. Under current Federal law it is illegal for persons convicted of felonies to possess firearms. Yet many people who engage in serious spousal or child abuse ultimately are not charged with or convicted with felonies. At the end of the day, due to outdated thinking, or perhaps after a plea bargain, they are--at most--convicted of a misdemeanor. In fact, Mr. President, most of those who commit family violence are never even prosecuted. When they are, one-third of the cases that would be considered felonies if committed by strangers are, instead, filed as misdemeanors. The fact is, in many places today, domestic violence is not taken as seriously as other forms of criminal behavior.”