Chuck Schumer: “I, too, salute both my colleagues for their superb leadership on this issue. This bill, the assault weapons ban, is…”

“I, too, salute both my colleagues for their superb leadership on this issue. This bill, the assault weapons ban, is hanging by a thread. There is no good reason on God's green Earth why. It has been a success in preventing crimes. It has not hurt a single law-abiding gun owner. Yet we are here today at the eleventh hour worrying and wondering whether this legislation will be renewed. If it is not renewed, it is a giant step backwards, I say to my colleagues. How can we take it in the light of 10 years of experience which shows how successful the legislation is? The number of guns, assault weapons, 19 banned weapons, used in crimes has dramatically declined--by 300 percent. The number of individuals who have been hurt by this--hunters, small businesspeople, homeowners who want to protect themselves by having a gun--have not been hurt at all. These are weapons of war. They are designed to kill a whole lot of people quickly. They are not designed for hunting. They are not designed for self-defense of a homeowner or a store owner. The only reason we are here today is politics. I plead with our President--he has said he is for the legislation after the modification the good Senator from California made, so it is exactly the same as the bill we have had in effect--I plead to not just simply state once or twice he is for this. One phone call, Mr. President, can pass this bill. Please, we need this legislation. I urge my colleagues to reach into their consciences and pass it.”