Frank Lautenberg: “I thank the chair. Understandably, police don't want guns in those shelters. The police must have the right to make that…”

“I thank the chair. Understandably, police don't want guns in those shelters. The police must have the right to make that shelter a gun-free area. So what do they do? They say: Hey, Joe, turn in that gun; turn it in, and as soon as you are settled, we will keep it in safekeeping for you, and we will give you back your gun. But meanwhile, don't permit that gun owner, in a moment of rage, to do damage that is irreparable. The fact is, our law enforcement community has to have the ability to make decisions that it believes will ensure the health and safety of the community at large. There is no valid reason law enforcement agencies should be prevented from doing their job in times of emergency. Let's not make it tougher for them. What do we want to do in times of crisis such as a flood, an earthquake, a hurricane, a tornado? At times like that, do we want to make it tougher for our emergency response people to carry out the duties they volunteer for, typically, and do so efficiently, under dangerous circumstances to themselves? Let the NRA say: Come on, come on, let's let them have their guns. What is the difference? So they may take a shot or two. That is how it sounds to me, and I hope it sounds the same way to others. I yield the floor.”