Nick Rahall: “I rise today Mr. Chairman, to oppose H.R. 4296, the bill to ban so-called assault weapons and to tell you how the people…”

“I rise today Mr. Chairman, to oppose H.R. 4296, the bill to ban so-called assault weapons and to tell you how the people whom I am proud to represent feel about this effort to erode their rights. I have heard from countless constituents who value the right to own the firearms of their choice so that they may participate in hunting or sporting activities or to be able to protect their homes or their families. They understand the facts that those who advocate gun control do not understand--gun control only restricts the rights of honest citizens, it has no effect on criminals. And that is what we are talking about here--gun control instead of criminal control or prevention who believe, for a moment that if successful today, this will be the end. Who are we kidding? Let me tell you a little bit about West Virginia. We have very little restriction on our second amendment rights and yet we are not overrun by gun crime. We do not have shoot-outs on our streets. People do not barricade themselves in their homes, afraid to go out into their neighborhoods. On the contrary, West Virginia, a State with little gun control, enjoys one of the lowest crime rates of this Nation. We should get one thing clear, Mr. Chairman, the debate here today is not about guns, it is not about assault weapons. What we are really talking about is prohibiting ordinary, peaceable Americans from owning private property of their choosing.”