Political Quotes

“I want to begin by commending Chairman Brooks and Chairman Schumer for their leadership on the crime bill. It has been a real pleasure as a member of the Subcommittee on Crime and Criminal Justice of the Committee on the Judiciary to work with both of the gentleman on this piece of legislation, which I think is a powerful piece of legislation, for it very neatly balances the two things that a comprehensive crime bill needs: on the one hand, swift, sure, and severe punishment, and on the other hand, programs that speak to prevention. Mr. Chairman, I want to share with this body a news clip from the morning paper in Cincinnati. Last night a 17-year-old teenager was killed on the streets of Cincinnati. All too often in Cincinnati and cities around this country juveniles are victims of crime involving handguns and other weapons. All too often juveniles are those who are committing crimes, some against themselves, some against those that are adults. There is a very real need for this legislation. Mr. Chairman, I applaud the three strikes and you are out legislation. It is appropriately and narrowly crafted. It makes clear if a human being in this society three different times is convicted of a violent crime, then on the third strike, that individual is going to be put away for life.”