Mike Lee

It would be my preference if we could find a way to put an end to events like this, without doing violence to the Constitution and also without leaving law-abiding citizens more vulnerable to crime.

So if we restrict access to these guns, we are limiting the ability of individual Americans, law-abiding Americans, to use them for lawful purposes?

I think every one of us, both here in this room and everyone watching on television, has been horrified by the incidents that occurred in Newtown, in Tucson, and elsewhere.

I do not want to give up my handguns.

One of the arguments that I have frequently heard for making this type of weapon illegal... is that weapons like these are available on a widespread basis.

Probably a merciful approach to take under the circumstances.

That's certainly--certainly is how it should work and I suppose consistent with the judges' oath that federal judges must take.

It shouldn't have. Maybe sometimes does, but if it does, it shouldn't.

Mr. Phillips has been nominated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

I strongly disagreed with that action and disputed the President's authority to make that as a recess appointment

We do need to point out at the same time that currently 54 out of the 90 judicial vacancies open in the United States are not moving forward precisely because we have no nominee.

It is emphatically the duty and the province of the courts to say what the law is.

I think, of all of our obligations as Senators, there is none more important than making sure that our federal courts are staffed with good judges.

The Constitution places in the Senate the authority to advise and consent the President on the President's nominees, and we take that obligation very seriously.

[O]n January 10 I authorized all defense components to begin taking immediate actions to slow spending in order to prevent even more dire consequences later in the year.

Not aware of one person who is saying children with glasses are going to be taken away from their parents.

I didn't come prepared to cite Supreme Court precedent on this point but it's a well known fact --

Well, I respectfully disagree with the former attorney general's conclusions. I look at the treaty and I see one provision that arguably sets in place international entitlement rights, another provision that can be read to undermine the…

Typically, Anderson, we use treaties to deal with international relations, to deal with the law of nations acting on the world scene. This deals with a lot of issues that are distinctively domestic in nature.

U.S. law, including the Americans with disabilities act, already provides the worldwide gold standard on the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

Well, you can't assume that because something hasn't happened already, that it couldn't happen in the future.

the U.S. has a moral obligation to act immediately if there's concrete proof Syrian troops have loaded chemical weapons that are ready to be launched.

That is why it is so important to get this right right now.

the way you discern the intent of the legislature is by the language that they use.

I certainly appreciate your concerns. I respect and I agree with your desire to ensure that we have civility marking all of our proceedings in Congress.