James T. Callahan: “I am happy to see that the two Members are drinking out of the same dipper, as we say in Alabama. But there is a…”

“I am happy to see that the two Members are drinking out of the same dipper, as we say in Alabama. But there is a question that I have that is sort of confusing to me. That is the underlying bill. As I understand the motion the gentleman from Michigan has made, we are instructing the conferees to do a couple of things that sound good, measures that aid in the effective enforcement of gun safety laws within the scope of the conference. Certainly we support that. I think all of us in this House would do that. Two is commonsense gun safety measures that prevent felons, fugitives, and stalkers from obtaining firearms and children from getting access to guns, within the scope of the conference. Who could be opposed to that? Our problem is, Mr. Speaker, that the Members also instruct the conferees to immediately report out a compromise measure. If I vote in favor of instructing the conferees to do these two things, and then thirdly, instruct them to report a compromise bill out, what if I am opposed to what they compromise on?”