Frank Lautenberg: “I don't know what we are talking about when I listen to the speeches. I hear it said that these aren't necessarily the…”

“I don't know what we are talking about when I listen to the speeches. I hear it said that these aren't necessarily the guns of criminals. By the way, I asked the question whether the two kids who killed their classmates and others in Columbine High School, were they criminals before they started to shoot that gun? I don't think so. The question is, how does the gun get into their hands? It was an assault weapon, and we ought to ban these weapons. The President of the United States even said so. I heard reference to the fact there were organizations that said this ban should be removed. I want to talk about those who want to support the ban. For instance, the Fraternal Order of Police, the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers; the International Brotherhood of Police Officers; the Major Cities Chiefs of Police; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association--and the list goes on. Let us listen to what the people are saying. Who are we protecting? Are we protecting the average citizen? Are we protecting the worker who has a disgruntled fellow employee pull the trigger? I don't think so. We ought to continue this ban.”