Gerald Kleczka: “I am holding in my hand a copy of a story from the Milwaukee Journal, which describes in vivid detail the death and…”

“I am holding in my hand a copy of a story from the Milwaukee Journal, which describes in vivid detail the death and destructiveness of military-style assault weapons. The headline reads, ``Outgunned by the Bad Guys,'' and is a quote from Pewaukee Police Chief Ed Baumann. He was describing last Thursday's violent and tragic death of Captain James Lutz, of the Waukesha police department. Captain Lutz, a 29-year decorated veteran of the police force, was in pursuit of two bank robbers who turned their M1-A assault weapons on him, killing him instantly in a hail of 20 rounds. ``It was not even close,'' says chief Baumann, ``He didn't have a chance.'' This week, the House will have the opportunity to ban the deadly weapons like the ones that cut down Captain Lutz and countless other Americans each year. This is not some knee-jerk reaction to a tragedy, this is an opportunity to take a stand on the safety of the men, women, and children of America. This bill does not ban legitimate hunting and sporting weapons. Instead, it halts the manufacture, transfer and sale of the most deadly, the most indiscriminate, the most violent types of weapons available on the market today. Over 670 hunting and sporting rifles are specifically exempted by this legislation, and weapons currently owned are protected by a grandfather clause. This bill does away with the most deadly instruments of terror, the weapons designed for no other purpose than to kill people quickly.”