Political Quotes

“I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 4296, the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act. In conjunction with the crime bill and the Brady Law, this legislation is an essential step in ensuring the safety of our community, our law enforcement officers, and especially our families. Mr. Chairman, assault weapons were designed for only one purpose-- killing people. These weapons were designed for war, specifically manufactured to make as many wounds as possible with a maximum number of bullets. Unfortunately, the rapid-firing capability and large bullet capacity of these deadly weapons are quite useful as instruments of terror for the criminals of our country. There is an ongoing war on the streets between the law enforcement and the criminals. The fact remains that in the city of Philadelphia, our local police are not armed with assault weapons, but the criminals are. Mr. Chairman, opponents to this legislation have stated that a ban on any firearm is an infringement upon their second amendment rights. Let me remind my colleagues that the Preamble of the Constitution clearly states that it is our constitutional duty to ``insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defence, [and to] promote the general Welfare [of] ourselves and our Posterity.'' H.R. 4296 is an important step in upholding our vows to ensure these ``God-given'' liberties.”