Frank Lautenberg: “I hear references here to the fact that this organization will be self-sustaining. That is wonderful. Just give them $76…”

“I hear references here to the fact that this organization will be self-sustaining. That is wonderful. Just give them $76 million worth of goods to start with and then from then on we are self-sustaining. It is taxpayers' money. That is what we are giving away. The Army says it has this kind of value. The value has been disputed, the value being $76 million, which is conservative because as we have heard from the Senator from California and my personal investigation. I called a gun dealer that I know in Colorado. It may surprise some around here to know that I know a gun dealer, but I do not buy guns from him. He confirmed that an M-1 can be anywhere from $400 to $500, and so when we multiply that by 176,000 weapons, we know pretty well what kind of value we have. Very simply, Mr. President, this is not a gun control measure. If people choose to have target practice, learn how to use rifles, practice gun safety, that is fine with me. Let them pay for it. When we send teams to the Olympics or we encourage sports, we do not pay for ping-pong paddles or ping-pong balls or tennis rackets or tennis balls or baseball bats or mitts. That is not the Government's responsibility. This is something that ought to be discontinued. These weapons should be destroyed. They ought not to be out in the population.”