Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have sought recognition to introduce today a bill that strengthens the Armed Career Criminal Act in response to a series of Supreme Court rulings, which wrongly have restricted when and how the Act is applied, and have caused unnecessary and costly litigation with inconsistent results throughout our Federal court system. The Department of Justice has provided extensive technical assistance in the drafting of this bill over many months. I am introducing this legislation, so the next Congress can have my views on this subject. The Armed Career Criminal Act provides certain and harsh penalties for criminals who are considered especially dangerous because of their prior serious criminal convictions and subsequent possession of a firearm. It has proven to be one of the strongest crime fighting tools in protecting the public from repeat offenders who are armed. The Act mandates a 15-year sentence for offenders who have already accumulated three prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense, and are convicted in Federal court for possessing a firearm in violation of section 922(g) of title 18, United States Code. The Armed Career Criminal Act, also referred to as section 924(e) of title 18, United States Code, was part of the Omnibus Crime Control Act passed by the 98th Congress in 1984. The 99th Congress broadened its reach by expanding the crimes that trigger the mandatory 15 year sentence.…”