Political Quotes

“I was in support of the gentleman's first amendment; but, in this instance, we are at a different point of view. I note that the majority has a lot of enthusiasm for gun amendments on this appropriations bill, and it is making it almost impossible for us to deal with the challenges for the subcommittee around spending when we keep getting mired down in this, these gun policy riders. I would just say that it is obviously the majority's view that this somehow is an appropriate vehicle to express your love for guns of all types, ammunition of all types. I think that my view would be we should make it permissible for any gun that you could bring into the Capitol, you should be able to bring into schools or colleges, or any ammunition you could bring into the Capitol, you could use in any weapon. That might be a way to proceed. The majority doesn't have any enthusiasm for the Second Amendment when it comes to people coming into the United States Capitol because we know that guns can be dangerous. We know that people can be harmed. We know, in fact, that there were Members, when an attack happened right here on this floor--that is why we have, on the back of these chairs, certain protections--who were shot from this balcony. We know the dangers of guns and ammunition, and it is unfortunate that we would use an appropriations vehicle to move these policy matters, which are controversial.…”