Frank Lautenberg: “on September 12, the U.S. Senate, by a vote of 97 to 2, approved an amendment that I sponsored to ban wife beaters and…”

“on September 12, the U.S. Senate, by a vote of 97 to 2, approved an amendment that I sponsored to ban wife beaters and child abusers from having guns. Last night, I learned something about this place that shocks me, and I am here now for 14 years. I learned that even a mandate, voted on 97 to 2, can be dispensed with by a wink of the eye and a nod of the head, with the Rifle Association looking over Members' shoulders. I was told last night that, behind closed doors, the Republican leadership has decided to entirely gut this legislation and say that someone who beats his wife and beats his child ought to be able to own a gun. In other words, the gun is more valuable than the life that may be in jeopardy. According to the information I received, the continuing resolution now will contain language that seems to have been drafted directly by the National Rifle Association. This new language would allow child abusers to have guns. It also lets off the hook all wife beaters who are convicted in a bench trial, that is, as opposed to a jury trial, just a judge sitting there. And it contains special notification requirements that will allow many wife beaters to hold on to their guns, and that will say to these wife beaters: For you, unlike for everyone else in our society, ignorance of the law is an appropriate excuse.”