September 29, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7741 able to finish its work even then. ment Reform; and (2) one motion to recom- ever, D.C.’s homicide rate rose by more Truly, this has been a do-nothing Con- mit with or without instructions. than 200 percent by 1991, while during gress. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. the same period, the national homicide Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance ISAKSON). The gentleman from Wash- rate rose by just 12 percent. It is clear of my time. ington (Mr. HASTINGS) is recognized for that this misguided and overly restric- Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 hour. tive gun ban has not only failed to de- back the balance of my time, and I Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. crease violent crime in the District of move the previous question on the res- Speaker, for the purpose of debate Columbia, but it may have contributed olution. only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to its increase. We have a chance today The previous question was ordered. to the gentleman from Massachusetts to do something about that. The resolution was agreed to. (Mr. MCGOVERN), pending which I yield So accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge A motion to reconsider was laid on myself such time as I may consume. my colleagues to support both the rule the table. During consideration of this resolu- and the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of f tion, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. my time. STAND UP FOR THE SANCTITY OF (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I MARRIAGE and was given permission to revise and thank the gentleman from Washington extend his remarks.) for yielding me the customary 30 min- (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given utes, and I yield myself such time as I permission to address the House for 1 Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 803 is a may consume. minute and to revise and extend his re- Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to closed rule providing for the consider- marks.) the so-called District of Columbia Per- ation of H.R. 3193, the District of Co- Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise sonal Protection Act and to this closed today to commend this House for hav- lumbia Personal Protection Act. The rule. ing the courage to protect the sanctity rule provides 1 hour of debate in the Mr. Speaker, today the Republican of marriage. House, equally divided and controlled leadership is, once again, letting the In today’s society, we find ourselves by the chairman and ranking minority American people down by considering constantly fending off attacks aimed at member of the Committee on Govern- the wrong bill at the wrong time under the foundation of our Nation. Whether ment Reform. the wrong circumstances. Once again, it is those that would take ‘‘in God we The rule waives all points of order we are considering legislation in the trust’’ off of our currency or ‘‘one Na- against consideration of the bill, and shadow of the November elections. tion under God’’ out of our Pledge, we provides that the amendment printed With 5 weeks to go until Election Day, must stand up for the basic tenets on in the report of the Committee on the Republican leadership has put the which this Nation was founded. Rules accompanying this resolution country’s agenda on hold in order to This week, Mr. Speaker, we continue shall be considered as adopted. Finally, force an unnecessary vote on a bad and our fight to defend one of the most the rule provides one motion to recom- stupid bill. Once again, the Republican basic institutions of our Nation: the mit, with or without instructions. leadership is catering to the special in- traditional family. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3193 is a bipartisan terests at the expense of the public It is true that the recognition of the measure sponsored by the gentleman good; and once again, the Republican family unit has traditionally been a from Indiana (Mr. SOUDER). The bill leadership is squandering the House’s State issue; but with the recent on- has 228 cosponsors from across the very limited time with this foolish, slaught against the traditional family country, including 44 Democrats. misguided, election-year legislation. in our Nation, I believe it is now time The bill simply permits law-abiding Mr. Speaker, we are just one day for the Federal Government to act de- citizens of the District of Columbia to away from the end of the fiscal year, cisively. own firearms, a right currently denied and only one, and I repeat, one, appro- As a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 106, I en- them by act of the D.C. City Council. priation bill has been sent to the White courage my colleagues to stand up in The Nation’s capital has the toughest House. Not only are the remaining 12 appropriations bills left on the table, defense of the traditional family and in laws and regulations in the country not only has the House failed to com- defense of traditional marriage be- prohibiting gun ownership by citizens. plete consideration of all of the appro- tween one man and one woman. This bill would repeal the most onerous of those laws, thereby permitting indi- priations bills, but the Republican f viduals to protect themselves and their leadership, which controls both Houses PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION families in their own homes and other- of Congress, cannot even agree upon a OF H.R. 3193, DISTRICT OF CO- wise enjoy privileges of gun ownership budget. LUMBIA PERSONAL PROTECTION comparable to those enjoyed by most Mr. Speaker, the Republican leader- ACT American citizens. ship cannot get its act together on the This bill would not affect any laws highway bill, a bill that would create Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. thousands of good-paying jobs. The Re- Speaker, by direction of the Com- currently aimed at criminals and would place strict penalties on crimi- publican leadership cannot find the mittee on Rules, I call up House Reso- time to work on a bill to increase the lution 803 and ask for its immediate nals who use guns to commit crimes. In addition, all penalties are doubled for minimum wage, even though wages are consideration. stagnant and over 4 million Americans The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- illegal possession of a firearm in a ‘‘gun-free zone’’ within 1,000 feet of a have fallen out of the middle class and lows: into poverty since George Bush became school, day care center, college, or var- H. RES. 803 President. And the Republican leader- ious youth facilities such as swimming ship cannot even get its act together Resolved, That upon the adoption of this pools and video arcades. Possession or resolution it shall be in order without inter- on the Department of Defense author- use of a firearm while committing a vention of any point of order to consider in ization or the FSC/ETI bill, each of crime of violence would remain punish- the House the bill (H.R. 3193) to restore sec- which has languished in conference for able by up to 30 years in prison with a ond amendment rights in the District of Co- months. lumbia. The bill shall be considered as read minimum 5 years served before eligi- Mr. Speaker, as the House takes up for amendment. The amendment printed in bility for parole or probation. this frivolous legislation today, the Re- the report of the Committee on Rules accom- Mr. Speaker, some have suggested publican leadership has yet to act on panying this resolution shall be considered that passage of H.R. 3193 may lead to as adopted. The previous question shall be the recommendations of the 9/11 Com- an increase in violent crime, but I have mission report. considered as ordered on the bill, as amend- to say that the facts suggest otherwise. ed, to final passage without intervening mo- b 1045 tion except: (1) one hour of debate on the Before the D.C. City Council imposed a bill, as amended, equally divided and con- and home-defense ban in 1976, Although the other body is working trolled by the chairman and ranking minor- D.C.’s homicide rate had been declin- on legislation to implement the 9/11 re- ity member of the Committee on Govern- ing. After the ban was instituted, how- port and the Democratic leader of this

VerDate Aug 04 2004 02:43 Sep 30, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29SE7.009 H29PT1 H7742 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 29, 2004 House has introduced legislation that This bill will make the District of I just wanted to speak on another addresses the report’s recommenda- Columbia a more dangerous place to issue, if I can just for a minute. An ear- tions, here we are today wasting pre- live, to work and to study. lier speaker mentioned the FBI and cious time that could be used to debate Although Members of this body may funding, and I just wanted to make the 9/11 report’s recommendations. Will disagree on gun issues, surely, we can sure the record, since the CONGRES- it take another September 11 anniver- all agree that the citizens of the Dis- SIONAL RECORD is supposed to be a fac- sary before the Republican leadership trict of Columbia should not have to tual document, to let the Members will act? Will we see the Republican face fully-loaded assault weapons on know on both sides, since September leaders’ bill before the election? Will their streets, in their neighborhoods 11, 2001, the Committee on Appropria- we have to wait until after November and around their schools. tions has supported the FBI’s trans- for the necessary reforms that will help But, Mr. Speaker, this bill and this formation, increasing the FBI’s budget make our country and our citizens rule did not have to be so lousy. Last nearly 50 percent from $3.1 billion in safer against terror? night, the Committee on Rules had the fiscal year 2000 to $4.6 billion in fiscal Mr. Speaker, if the American people chance to make this a better bill and a year 2004. want real leadership on real issues fac- better process. Instead, the leadership These funding increases have allowed ing the Nation, they certainly should of the Committee on Rules decided to the FBI to increase the number of not look to this House of Representa- pass a rule that makes a mockery of Joint Terrorism Task Forces to 100; tives. Under this Republican leader- the deliberative process Congress is create the Office of Intelligence; create ship, this House has become a place supposed to follow when we consider the Terrorist Threat Integration Cen- where trivial issues are debated cas- bills. ter, which the administration has done ually, and serious and important ones First of all, the Republican leader- with FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, not at all. ship brought this bill to the floor with- who meet together every day; the For- In fact, today, we are debating H.R. out consideration by the committee of eign Terrorist Tracking Task Force; 3193, a bill that would overturn Wash- jurisdiction, the Committee on Govern- and the Terrorist Screening Center; ington, D.C.’s laws and restrictions on ment Reform. Then, last night, when hire thousands of new agents and ana- the possession of firearms. Among its members from both parties brought lysts and support staff, including 620 provisions, H.R. 3193 repeals the Dis- amendments to our committee, the additional linguists; create new train- trict’s ban on semi-automatic assault Committee on Rules rejected them all. ing programs for agents and analysts; weapons, its gun registration require- The rule does not make in order the and upgrade the technology capabili- gentlewoman from California’s (Mrs. ments and its ban on cop-killer ammu- ties. BONO) and the gentlewoman from New nition. We have National Academy of Public That is right, Mr. Speaker, this bill York’s (Mrs. MCCARTHY) amendment Administration looking at the reforma- puts cop-killer ammunition on the addressing the fact that this bill re- tion of the FBI. The General Account- streets of our Nation’s capital. Simply peals the ban on cop-killer bullets. ing Office, the Congressional Research This closed rule guarantees that this put, this legislation makes the Na- Service, and the 9/11 Commission in its bill would emerge from this House with tion’s capital a more dangerous place report referenced the work of the no real debate or consideration. This to be a police officer. House Committee on Appropriations. It As D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams House floor has become a ‘‘legislation- must have been a misunderstanding, wrote to the congressional leadership, free zone.’’ but I just want the Members to know Mr. Speaker, this issue is about more ‘‘It is unthinkable that, while the Na- that, as we look in the record, this than guns. This issue is about how the tion’s capital is under alert, Congress Congress, both sides, and this adminis- residents of Washington, D.C., are tration have increased the FBI budget should take to expose more than treated. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe half a million residents, almost 200,000 by dramatic numbers. that the Members of Congress from In- Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield Federal workers and 20 million tourists diana or or Massachusetts have a 3 minutes to the gentleman from to greater danger.’’ monopoly on wisdom when it comes to Rhode Island (Mr. KENNEDY). It is unthinkable, Mr. Speaker, to local laws, and I would not presume to Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. put our officers at greater risk at a impose on the citizens and elected offi- Speaker, I never could have thought I time when Capitol Police expect $20 cials of the District of Columbia some- would see it, a House that is run by a million in additional unbudgeted ex- thing that would never, never, never be conservative majority that is bent on penditures to secure the Capitol Build- allowed or accepted by my own city imposing its will on the minority. ing for this year. The last thing they council or State legislature. We have seen it many times, but, Mr. need to hear is that semi-automatic Mr. Speaker, not one constituent of Speaker, it is so interesting to see weapons can now be carried on the Na- any voting Member of Congress will that, this morning, we are taking up an tional Mall or cop-killer bullets are benefit by today’s action. As the Fort issue, we are enforcing our will upon legal in the District of Columbia. Wayne Journal Gazette stated in an the people of this District of Columbia. While the bill changes the law to editorial published just last week on Whereas, we would not even allow any allow District of Columbia residents to September 21, 2004, ‘‘This page believes other State or this Congress to dictate carry pistols, open or concealed, in Washington should be able to set its its will against the interests of our own their homes and places of business, it own gun-control laws but acknowl- local communities, we are prepared to does not repeal another District of Co- edges that honest people can disagree do that to the District of Columbia. lumbia gun law. The law we will not re- regarding the city’s second amendment It should not be any surprise, I sup- peal today is the provision outlawing rights. But there is little doubt that, pose, to our delegate, the gentlewoman people carrying or having readily ac- right now, Souder’s bill is simply a from the District of Columbia (Ms. cess to firearms ‘‘upon the United waste of Congress’ time and does noth- NORTON). She has seen it too many States grounds or within the Capitol ing to improve good government or times where she represents a populace Buildings.’’ help his constituents in Indiana.’’ here in Washington, D.C., that does not So we will vote to approve guns in Mr. Speaker, let us follow what the have the vote, does not have the vote another person’s workplace in the Dis- Fort Wayne Journal Gazette wrote and here in the Halls of Congress. It does trict but not in our offices. address the real needs of our constitu- have a vote, however, on the local man- It is unthinkable that only 2 years ents. agement of the city, not until today. after the Washington area was terror- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Today, the Congress says, not only ized by who killed ten people in my time. will you not have a vote in the Halls of the region and while the Nation’s cap- Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. the Congress, not only as ital is still under terrorist alert, Con- Speaker, I am pleased to yield 11⁄2 min- citizens will you be denied the right to gress would take action to expose more utes to the gentleman from vote, but you will also be denied in than half a million District residents, (Mr. WOLF). your own local government to decide almost 200,000 Federal workers and 20 Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I thank the what is in the best interests of your million tourists to greater danger. gentleman for the time. people.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 02:43 Sep 30, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29SE7.012 H29PT1 September 29, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7743 We look at Washington, D.C., and see bia should continue to prevent its citi- concealed hand guns in their places of one of the most murderous capitals in zens from exercising their full rights business and property. this country, where every single day under the Constitution. We do not get Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that mothers worry about whether their to pick and choose our amendments, anybody can say with a straight face children are going to get home at the and the second amendment was written that this will make the residents of end of the day, whether their children with just as much force and meaning as D.C. and this country safer. are going to be killed in drive-by the first and the fifth and the tenth. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to shootings, whether their children are In 1975, the District’s government en- the gentlewoman from the District of going to be safe. acted measures to prevent citizens Columbia (Ms. NORTON). To the mothers in the District of Co- from owning certain firearms in an ill- Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank lumbia, terrorism means drive-by advised effort to reduce its violent the gentleman for yielding me this shootings, not Osama bin Laden. To crime rate. My colleagues have just time. the people of Washington, D.C., ter- heard about that from the previous Mr. Speaker, when this law was first rorism is defined by semi-automatic speaker. As many of my colleagues can introduced, it was simply regarded as weapons and unrestricted access to all attest, however, the District, despite another absurd piece of legislation. kinds of guns. these laws, continues to be known There are lots of them during a session Mr. Speaker, this rule and this bill across the country as the ‘‘murder cap- of Congress. When we moved toward a says terrorism is all right. Terrorism ital.’’ vote on this law, it left the realm of for the people of this city, who now It is beyond me to understand how we the absurd and entered the realm of the will have to wonder how many guns are can stand here in the well of this House truly reckless, particularly reckless staring them down when they go out- and say this is the most violent city in and callous at a time when 16 of our side every single day of the week, are the Nation, this is the murder capital children are dead from guns in this going to have to wonder, when they see of the world, people are being gunned city, far more than in any recent year; all of the complement of anti-terrorist down, please do not change anything; and at a time when, to their credit, the measures in this town and know that leave it as it is. Does it ever strike mayor of the city and the police chief those anti-terrorist measures are for anybody that, perhaps, perhaps, there of the city have reduced adult homi- everyone else but them, the inhab- would be less violence if the bad guys cides by 25 percent. itants of Washington, D.C. who do get guns, who have guns, would I am on the floor this morning large- Mr. Speaker, this rule and this bill think for a moment that the people ly because this repeal will largely af- eliminate all of those laws that the they are approaching might have guns, fect kids in the District of Columbia, people of this city have determined are too? and I cannot believe that that is the in their best interest in defending their This is not the kind of wild west life will of the great majority of the people people, and it says, no, we are going to we want to live, but it is a fact of life of this House. There could not be a make you an example to the NRA that, that, in those areas where we have con- more wrong time or a more wrong whatever they want, they will get. cealed-carry laws, there is less violent place, a more wrong city, a more wrong When it comes to the repeal of the as- region. This region still has not recov- sault weapons ban, not only will this gun crime because the bad guys who have an easy time getting guns are ered from the attack of 2002, President not have fallen through on which left 10 people in Maryland, Vir- his commitment, but furthermore, concerned that maybe they are ap- proaching someone who has one, too. ginia and the District of Columbia they will have retreated on their com- dead, 5 more injured from a Bush- mitment to defend the people of this There are some nations or some juris- dictions in this Nation that actually master assault weapon that would now Capital City and the Capitol Police of be legal to have in your homes, to have this Capital City. They ought to be require people to keep guns in their houses, and it is an uncomfortable fact in your businesses, to have in your ashamed of themselves. workplaces in the District of Columbia, Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. for those who would like to get rid of in the Nation’s Capital, which is now Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 min- guns, but it is a fact. under an orange alert. utes to the gentleman from b 1100 This bill did not move anyplace, Mr. (Mr. LINDER), the vice chairman of the They have less crime. They have far Speaker. It was referred to the Com- Committee on Rules. Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank less crime. mittee on Government Reform, on So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my col- my friend from the Committee on which the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Rules, the gentleman from Washington leagues to support this rule and sup- SOUDER) and I both serve. He is the pri- port the underlying law. (Mr. HASTINGS), for the time. mary sponsor of this bill. There was no Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield interest in the committee in this bill. Res. 803, a closed rule that provides for myself such time as I may consume. The committee is deep into matters af- the consideration of H.R. 3193, the Dis- Mr. Speaker, I am a little bit baffled fecting and Homeland Security trict of Columbia Personal Protection by the previous speaker to imply that and Federal reorganization in the DOD, Act. This is an appropriate rule that somehow the passage of this bill would in the Department of Homeland Secu- will allow the House to work its will on make the residents of D.C. safer. If this rity, and even in the Subcommittee on the underlying legislation, and I urge bill is enacted, the following weapons Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and my colleagues in the House to join me would be lawful to possess: Human Resources, which I am pleased in voting for its approval. The AK–47, the Israeli Semiauto- to serve on with the gentleman from Mr. Speaker, I can certainly appre- matic , the Bushmaster X– Indiana (Mr. SOUDER). ciate the position of those who oppose 15, which was used by the D.C. area Of course, this bill had to leap over the underlying legislation. As a con- snipers to kill 10 people in 2002; the every subcommittee and leap over the sistent proponent of home rule, I be- Barrett M82 A–1 50- sniper weap- committee, because it never got a lieve that the Federal Government on, which has the range of about 1 mile hearing, because there was no interest should be limited in its influence over and is used by U.S. troops in Iraq and and there was no view that this is the State and local laws. and worldwide to pene- kind of bill, particularly after 9/11, that The crux of this debate, however, is trate bunkers, to disable armored per- any self-respecting Member of Congress not whether the Congress has the au- sonnel carriers, and to take down would want to bring to the floor of the thority to repeal the District’s prohibi- enemy aircraft. This bill would allow House. Yet here it has come, courtesy tion of owning firearms. The Founders fully-loaded assault weapons to be car- of the leadership of this House. were explicit in their desire for con- ried in public. This bill would allow Moreover, this matter was considered gressional oversight and responsibility armor-piercing ammunition, including a settled matter, if ever any matter is. in the affairs and laws of the District cop-killing bullets. This bill would The one group of local matters most of Columbia. eliminate the District’s registration prized as local in our country are The heart of the matter before us program even for assault weapons. This criminal justice matters. And this mat- today is whether the District of Colum- bill would allow individuals to carry ter has been settled by the people who

VerDate Aug 04 2004 06:21 Sep 30, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29SE7.013 H29PT1 H7744 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 29, 2004 will be overwhelmingly affected if you workplaces. Everybody knows that our police chief were here yesterday to vote for repeal today. It has been set- once you have a gun there, it stays say this is exactly what we do not tled by the people of the District of Co- there. That is, unless you have the ex- need. lumbia, who alone have the right to perience of running the District of Co- I ask you to respect the people who make decisions as to how to safeguard lumbia or living in the District of Co- know best, the people who will have to their lives. lumbia. And as our police chief says, pay the price, the people who have had Thank you very much, you of the pa- there would be a moment, a moment in to go to the funerals. I ask you to de- ternalistic variety who are going to time before weapons in people’s homes feat this bill. tell us how to safeguard our lives. I am would find their ways to the streets to Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. not going to tell you I do not expect settle domestic violence matters, ac- Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gen- you to tell my mayor, I do not expect quaintance quarrels, kids settling mat- tleman from Georgia (Mr. GINGREY). you to tell my unanimous city council, ters among themselves. I do not expect you to tell me, that is And, Mr. Speaker, we have even seen Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank to say, if you still believe this is a Fed- some of that when guns have gotten the gentleman from Washington State, eral Government and you believe that into kids’ hands. We know what would the distinguished member of the Com- we are as much citizens of the United happen with those guns because we live mittee on Rules, for yielding me this States as you are, and we are. here and we know our people. They time, and I want to thank my col- When this bill came to the floor, with would make their way into Ward Six, league, the gentleman from Indiana no opportunity to make any changes, where I live, which is close to the Cap- (Mr. SOUDER), for introducing legisla- of course, the only thing you can do is itol, and they would surely make their tion to restore our constitutionally to go to the Committee on Rules. way to the streets in the poorest wards protected right to keep and bear arms There we found a hostile attitude to- of the city, across the Anacostia River, in the District of Columbia. H.R. 3193, ward amendments, except amendments where most of the killings of residents, the District of Columbia Personal Pro- from one Member. Members came for- and particularly of children, have tection Act, would eliminate penalties ward from both sides. This is a matter taken place. for the legal possession of a firearm, of compelling interest to the entire The gentleman from Indiana (Mr. and it would permit the storage of country. And the only Member to in SOUDER) does not know any better, and legal firearms in an individual’s home fact get an amendment in order was I can forgive him that. What I cannot or place of business. the sponsor of the bill. He happens to forgive him is introducing and pressing This debate is fundamental in its na- be a Republican. No partisanship there, this bill at a time when we have child ture. Americans should have the right of course. killings at a record we have not seen in to defend themselves against a violent Actually, that fact, the one amend- many years. Why in the world would assault. They should have the right to ment coming from the gentleman from anybody want to make laws for some- protect their own lives. In 2002, the Indiana (Mr. SOUDER), the sponsor, is body else’s jurisdiction? District of Columbia earned the rare the front end of the partisanship of this So I said, well, if I could do only one distinction of being the murder capital bill. This bill is not about whether it amendment, what would I do? Because of America for 14 out of 15 years, yet will pass or fail. It comes a month be- I knew that you would not want to put all have been banned in the fore election, for reasons that the in a great many amendments to a bill District since 1976. This simple fact Members have not even tried to deny: that was being put forward for trans- shows that firearm bans do not work to Close to the election, let us hold up the parently political reasons. And I said, I decrease crime. D.C. laws should not Democrats, especially the Democrats know the one I would do, because I make it a criminal offense to possess a from rural areas, from southern areas, know what I have heard from my police firearm and self-defense in one’s own from western areas. Let us dare them chief. I would put in an amendment to home or business. to vote for home rule, as they usually say at least if you are going to have Mr. Speaker, the Washington Times do. Let us take them down with NRA ammunition, let there be no cop kill- reported on December 14, 1994, that Re- ads if they do. Everybody gets it. That ers’ ammunition. And I came forward becca Griffin heard her daughter is the only reason Democrats are on with an amendment that was aimed screaming one night, only to find her this bill. They saw Democrats taken chiefly at doing whatever little we bound and gagged by two potential kid- out by NRA distortions of their posi- could do to protect our police officers nappers. With one carrying a knife, she tions on weapons just a few years ago. and our children, the two categories of was quick to end the attack after re- The Souder amendment is really an people most vulnerable because they trieving her 32-caliber revolver from amendment to wipe the red off the are the disproportionate victims. the basement. Although her daughter sponsor’s face because he had sent a This amendment, however, like every was left cut and bleeding, by using a Dear Colleague, advising that a pre- Democratic amendment, was not made firearm to protect her family in her vious Dear Colleague saying that the in order. I think it goes without saying own home, she saved her daughter from bill would allow fully-loaded assault that most Members would prefer not to abduction and, yes, possibly death. weapons to be carried in public was a have armor-piercing incendiary ammu- matter of scare tactics. I can under- nition floating around their districts. It is interesting to note that crime stand why the gentleman from Indiana The fact is that the kind of ammuni- was on the decline in Washington, D.C., made the mistake. It is not his law, it tion that my amendment would bar are before the gun ban was imposed. Yet in is not his business, he does not know not barred by Federal law. In fact, Con- only the first 15 years of the ban, from what he is talking about, and he made gress, in fiscal year 2001, fiscal year 1976 to 1991, the homicide rate in- the kind of mistake I would make if I 2002, and fiscal year 2003, in the DOD creased by more than 200 percent while tried to mess in the business of his ju- appropriation, actually added to the the rest of the United States had only risdiction. I am not familiar with what appropriation language that barred a 12 percent increase. they do. He made a straight-out error. armor-piercing incendiary ammunition When Congress chose to delegate He said, oh, no, we were wrong; he was being transferred from DOD to private home rule in the 1970s, it specified that right. parties. legislation by the District must be con- Then, of course, he comes forward In the name of my children and po- sistent with the Constitution of the with an amendment, which is a mea lice officers, I thought maybe they will United States, and I hope that the gen- culpa that admits that he was wrong. throw me this sop. There are no sops to tleman from Rhode Island and the gen- Actually, his amendment does not help be thrown here. This bill not only is tlewoman from the District of Colum- very much, because it assumes an as- brought forward for political purposes, bia, who previously spoke about the sault weapon, a Bushmaster, a loaded this bill is brought forward in callous rights of D.C. citizens, are listening. handgun which you could keep in your disregard of these children. Their par- However, the District of Columbia con- home, in your business, that somehow ents have been to the Hill, begging to sistently violates the second amend- they are going to be contained in your have this vote rescinded. Our mayor, ment right to keep and bear arms. It homes, in your businesses, in your our new superintendent of schools, and violates the right to self-defense.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 02:43 Sep 30, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29SE7.051 H29PT1 September 29, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7745 Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to Washington, DC, September 16, 2004. For Princess Hansen. For James Richard- pass the rule for the District of Colum- Hon. TOM DELAY, son. For Chelsea Cromartie. For Myesha bia Personal Protection Act and to re- Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Lowe. I implore you to take no further ac- store second amendment rights to the Cannon House Office Building, Washington, tion on the District of Columbia Personal DC. Protection Act of 2004. The citizens of the law-abiding citizens of our Nation’s DEAR REPRESENTATIVE DELAY: Princess District of Columbia want nothing more Capital. Hansen. James Richardson. Chelsea than other American citizens would demand Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, how Cromartie. Myesha Lowe. These are the and get—the right to make our own deci- much time remains on both sides? names of four children who will never see sions about our public safety. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. adulthood. These are the names of four chil- Sincerely yours, LATHAM). The gentleman from Massa- dren whose parents are devastated by grief. ANTHONY A. WILLIAMS, chusetts (Mr. MCGOVERN) has 8 minutes These are the names of four children out of Mayor. remaining and the gentleman from 14 who were killed by illegal guns in the Dis- trict since January. Washington, DC, February 25, 2004. Washington (Mr. HASTINGS) has 20 min- On behalf of the residents of the nation’s Hon. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, utes remaining. capital, I am writing to express strong dis- Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office pleasure upon learning that federal legisla- Building, Washington, DC. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gen- tion to repeal the city’s gun control laws DEAR CONGRESSMAN NORTON: I am writing tleman from Oklahoma (Mr. SULLIVAN). could shortly come to a vote in the House of to express my strong opposition to any ef- Representatives. The District of Columbia b 1115 forts in Congress to eliminate or weaken cur- Personal Protection Act of 2004 is not just a rent laws regulating handgun ownership and step back in our efforts to control crime—it Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise possession in the District of Columbia. in strong support of H.R. 3193, the Dis- is a couple of football fields back. As a law enforcement officer with more I take sharp exception to this wholly inap- trict of Columbia Personal Protection than 35 years of experience, I know first- propriate intrusion into what is clearly a hand the devastation of handgun violence in Act. This is a commonsense piece of local matter. On behalf of the residents of our urban neighborhoods. One need look no legislation that will rightfully restore the District of Columbia, I urgently ask you the second amendment rights of Ameri- to take no further action on this legislation. farther than Ballou and Anacostia Senior cans living in the District of Columbia. It is unthinkable that while the nation’s cap- High Schools in Southeast DC for recent ex- Mr. Speaker, I know there are Mem- ital is under alert, Congress would take ac- amples of gun tragedies: two young student- bers of this House who support gun tion to expose more than a half a million athletes gunned down this school year, ei- District residents, almost 200,000 federal ther inside or just outside their school build- control. The issue today, however, is ing. Like these two killings, nearly 80 per- not gun control but it is self-defense. workers and 20 million tourists to greater danger. cent of the homicides in the District of Co- The right to be able to protect yourself The District of Columbia has been gov- lumbia are committed with a firearm, not to and your family is always important, erned by an elected Mayor and thirteen mention countless assaults, robberies and but the right to do so in your home is elected Council members since 1975. During other crimes of violence. the most important of all. the Council’s first legislative session in 1976, The District is facing nothing short of a In America, we consider the home a the District passed legislation that re- crisis when it comes to gun crime and gun special place and give greater weight stricted the possession, use and transfer of violence. Every day, our residents—and our to people’s liberties in the home. The handguns and semiautomatic weapons. The police officers—are confronted by far too many firearms, that are easily accessible to faulty bureaucratic logic of allowing courts have upheld the constitutionality of this law and no bill has been passed in the far too many people—including young peo- District of Columbia residents to de- District to water down our gun-control laws ple—who should not possess them. Last year fend themselves is refuted by common since. alone, Metropolitan Police officers recovered sense. D.C. has some of the strongest District leaders have enacted gun safety nearly 2,000 firearms, and we are on track to gun laws in the Nation, and yet the re- legislation based on our citizens’ view that increase that total this year. To somehow cent FBI figures show that the District any increase in the number of guns in the suggest that the District would be safer by has regained its former title as the District increases the likelihood that crimes introducing even more lethal firepower into murder capital of the Nation for 14 of will be committed with those guns. We have our city is pure folly. To reduce crime and made significant progress in reducing crime, prevent more senseless tragedies like the re- the last 15 years. Common sense and although we still have work to do. This year cent killings at Anacostia and Ballou, we the love of life and liberty tells us that alone, District residents have witnessed a 24 need fewer—not more—weapons on our D.C. residents should have the right to percent reduction in homicides and a 13 per- streets. And we need to have strong laws defend themselves in their own home. cent decrease in overall crime. There is no that allow our police officers to identify and According to the FBI, the street and way to argue that lifting our weapons bans arrest criminals who carry guns in our city. highway robbery rate has decreased by will not jeopardize this progress. My admin- I appreciate your strong support of DC’s 59 percent, which is a greater decrease istration has worked very hard to produce gun laws, and I stand ready to assist in than other types of robbery, so the the- these results and I ask you to respect our ef- working to retain and, if necessary, forts by leaving one of our most important strengthen those laws. You know, as I do, ory that gun-related street crimes will anti-crime tools in place. My greatest frus- that tough and sensible gun laws help make increase because of this bill is not sup- tration is that in spite of the significant re- our communities—and our police officers— ported by the facts nor by common duction in homicides, 14 children, the largest safe. The District of Columbia cannot afford sense. That leaves with us only one number in five years, have been killed by to go backwards when it comes to combating question really: Are law-abiding resi- guns this year. These killings, some by chil- gun violence. dents of this city entitled to the same dren, are reason enough to do no more harm Sincerely, rights as other Americans? I think our by allowing more guns in our city. CHARLES H. RAMSEY, Our residents know all too well the human Chief of Police. answer can be nothing other than a re- costs exacted by guns and violence. Eighty sounding yes. percent of all homicides in the District last Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield year were committed with guns, all of which 4 minutes to the gentleman from Mary- myself such time as I may consume. were brought into the city illegally. Because land (Mr. WYNN). Mr. Speaker, I include for the of the porous nature of our borders, we can Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in op- RECORD a letter from Mayor Anthony never rely on laws alone to keep guns out of position to the rule; and more impor- Williams and a letter from the Chief of our city, but these laws are indispensable tantly, I rise in opposition to the un- Police, Charles Ramsey, in strong op- local tools to combat crime. Our ability to derlying bill. When I looked at this reduce homicides would be severely com- position to this legislation. promised if—in addition to confiscating guns bill, I was compelled to ask the ques- We have heard from the gentleman brought in from other jurisdictions—we were tion of the supporters of this legisla- from Oklahoma and we have heard required to combat gun violence from weap- tion: What were they thinking? from the gentleman from Georgia who ons maintained, carried and bought within Number one, we need less guns in the think they know everything about the District. District of Columbia, not more guns. what the people of the District of Co- We are taking aggressive measures to fur- Mr. Speaker, I represent the subur- lumbia need and deserve; how about ther reduce homicides and violent crime in ban districts in Prince George’s County the city by increasing the number of sworn listening to the mayor of this city and officers to 3,800, restructuring our Patrol and Montgomery County, Maryland, to the police chief of this city who say Service Areas, strengthening our investiga- just outside of Washington, D.C. The this is a bad bill which will make the tive capacity, and improving 911 response gun violence in D.C. bleeds over, excuse streets of this city more dangerous? times. the expression, into our communities

VerDate Aug 04 2004 06:21 Sep 30, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29SE7.015 H29PT1 H7746 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 29, 2004 so I have a great concern that we not readily available under this bill? that the amendment cannot apply to have more violence and more guns. Again, it just does not make any sense. the District of Columbia, which is not Let me talk for a moment about the Let me tell Members about the reality a State. question of rights and the rights of of what actually happens. Thieves not Mr. Speaker, this body considered D.C. citizens. My colleagues on the only break into homes for cash and this issue in 1999 when the gentleman other side who are sponsoring this leg- jewelry, they also break into homes for from Virginia (Mr. GOODE) offered this islation are the same folks who are weapons, weapons that can be fenced repeal as an amendment to the gun saying we have to have democracy in and transferred and sold through other show bill. That amendment was de- Iraq, we need to let the Iraqis decide. means, and those same weapons that feated by a vote of 175–250. This House They would have the Iraqis decide their exist in the homes are also the weapons has already spoken. Members defeated fate, but they will not let the citizens that are used to commit crimes. that awful idea then, and I hope they of the District of Columbia decide their So while the gentleman presents one will defeat it again today when this bill fate. That does not make sense. anecdote of somebody who protected comes to the floor. The citizens of the District of Colum- their family with a handgun, there is a bia have not asked for this bill. The lot more information about people who I hope Members of this House will mayor is opposed to it, the police chief were victimized on the streets by hand- stand up to the NRA and will do the is opposed to it, the elected Represent- guns and semiautomatic weapons. right thing, will do the right thing by ative is opposed to it. That is the My colleague from the District of Co- the citizens of this city. How anybody democratic position, that the citizens lumbia made an impassioned plea on can make the case that making more of the District of Columbia, under the behalf of young people, all under the military-style assault weapons avail- concept of home rule, should be al- age of 17, who were the victims of gun able on the streets of D.C. somehow is lowed to make this decision, not people violence. I join her in that plea. Let us going to decrease crime is beyond me. from Indiana and Georgia. have some common sense, let us defeat It makes no sense at all. It is appalling to think that this this rule and then defeat the under- This is an arrogant bill, where people measure would repeal the District of lying bill. who have no idea what is going on in Columbia’s ban on the sale and posses- Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield this city are imposing their will on the sion of handguns and semiautomatic myself the balance of my time. people of the District of Columbia. weapons and eliminates criminal pen- Mr. Speaker, let me begin by reading alties for possessing unregistered hand- a ‘‘Dear Colleague’’ letter from the Mr. Speaker, I include for the RECORD two editorials, one from the guns. gentleman from California (Mr. WAX- Earlier a gentleman talked about the MAN), the ranking member, and the Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne, Indi- facts. Let us talk about the reality. gentleman from Virginia (Chairman ana, entitled ‘‘Where Are Souder’s Pri- The reality is that most if not all of TOM DAVIS) entitled Please ‘‘Oppose orities’’ and the other from ‘‘The Deca- these young people did not die as a re- H.R. 3193.’’ tur Daily Democrat’’ entitled sult of burglaries in their home, they They write, ‘‘We are writing to urge ‘‘Souder’s Contempt.’’ died on the streets. They died on the you to oppose H.R. 3193, a bill that I wish the gentleman who introduced streets as a result of handgun violence, would make Washington, D.C. less safe. this bill would have paid attention to not as a result of handguns purchased H.R. 3193 falls within the jurisdiction the editorials from his home news- in the District of Columbia, but from of the Committee on Government Re- papers. They are right. D.C. has a right Virginia and Maryland and other form, but was not considered by the to determine its fate on these gun laws. places. committee.’’ Congress has no business repealing That is the problem we have here. They say this bill ‘‘repeals the D.C. what the local leaders and legislators There are already too many handguns, laws that restrict the possession of in D.C. have decided. I hope all Member too many semiautomatic weapons, too firearms in the District of Columbia. of Congress do the right thing, will much street crime, and the sponsor of Among the laws repealed are the ban stand up for our kids, will stand up for this measure would allow for more. on semiautomatic assault weapons, the our police. All of the police officers, It is very interesting, we are in a pe- ban on armor-piercing ammunition, the police chief, the police associa- riod in which there is a great deal of and the gun registration requirements. tions, are all against this bill. Let us concern about terrorism. And of course Although one can debate the merits of do the right thing and defeat this bill. here in the capital, we are greatly con- some of D.C.’s gun laws, no one should HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, cerned for obvious reasons. Why would question the importance of keeping COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM, we want more handguns in the posses- fully-loaded assault weapons off the Washington, DC, September 27, 2004. sion of individuals in the District of streets of the Nation’s Capital city. PLEASE OPPOSE H.R. 3193 Columbia that might pose a terrorist ‘‘Another problem with H.R. 3193 is threat, or semiautomatic weapons in its impact on home rule for the Dis- DEAR COLLEAGUE: We are writing to urge the hands of the people of District of trict of Columbia. Congress would you to oppose H.R. 3193, a bill that would Columbia who might pose a terrorist never act to repeal the gun laws for make Washington, D.C., less safe. H.R. 3193 threat? It just does not make any communities in Northern Virginia or falls within the jurisdiction of the Govern- Southern California. Whether we agree ment Reform Committee, but was not con- sense. What were they thinking? sidered by the Committee. Under this bill, if a crime is com- or disagree with the District’s laws, we mitted and the weapon is found be- should accord the mayor and District H.R. 3193 repeals the D.C. laws that restrict the possession of firearms in the District of cause they eliminate the registration city council that same respect. Columbia. Among the laws repealed are the process, detectives could not determine ‘‘Please join us in voting no on H.R. ban on semiautomatic assault weapons, the whose gun it was. It just does not make 3193.’’ This letter was signed by the ban on armor-piercing (‘‘cop-killer’’) ammu- any sense. gentleman from Virginia (Chairman nition, and the gun registration require- And then how could people in this DAVIS) and the gentleman from Cali- ments. Although one can debate the merits body forget the fact that on July 24, fornia (Mr. WAXMAN). of some of D.C.’s gun laws, no one should 1998, a gunman came into this Capitol A number of speakers have said question the importance of keeping fully and fired a handgun, killing Jacob D.C.’s gun laws violate the second loaded assault weapons off the streets of the Chestnut, a United States Capitol Po- amendment. They do not violate the nation’s capital city. lice Officer, and Special Agent John second amendment. In a recent NRA- Another problem with H.R. 3193 is its im- Gibson? How can we forget the effects inspired lawsuit, D.C. citizens chal- pact on home rule for the District. Congress lenged the constitutionality of the would never act to repeal the gun laws for of handgun use, not to mention the communities in Northern Virginia or South- handgun that was used to shoot at city’s gun laws. In a decision styled ern California. Whether we agree or disagree President ? Seegers v. Ashcroft, a D.C. Federal with the District’s laws, we should accord The issue is not well, there is crime court judge found that the D.C. gun the Mayor and the D.C. City Council the in the District of Columbia; yes, that is laws did not violate the plaintiff’s sec- same respect. true. There is crime in every city. The ond amendment rights. In fact, because Please join us in voting ‘‘No’’ on H.R. 3193. issue is, do we want more crime and the second amendment specifically ap- Sincerely, more violence as weapons are more plies to State militias, the court held TOM DAVIS,

VerDate Aug 04 2004 06:21 Sep 30, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29SE7.019 H29PT1 September 29, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7747 Chairman. [From the Decatur Daily Democrat, Sept. 20, Members have heard much of the de- HENRY A. WAXMAN, 2004.] bate today that citizens are prevented Ranking Minority SOUDER’S CONTEMPT from owning a handgun at all. My bill Member. Rep. Mark Edward Souder is about as in- says even if citizens have a gun, let me terested in the hopes, fears and aspirations first state this, even if you have a gun, [From the Journal Gazette, Sept. 21, 2004] of District of Columbia residents as a rock you store a or , you are EDITORIAL: WHERE ARE SOUDER’S PRIORITIES? along the Maumee River in his northeast In- prohibited from using them to defend Northeast Indiana residents have good rea- diana congressional district. your own life, family, and home. Dis- son to question where Congressman Mark What does engage the Republican congress- trict law threatens honest people with Souder’s priorities lie. man’s enthusiasm is the prospect of forcing Souder has been receiving national expo- House Democrats to vote on a gun control imprisonment if they unlock, assem- sure, not for anything he’s doing for his con- law in a hotly contested election year. That ble, or load their guns even when under stituents but for his attempts to use the Fed- helps explain why Souder is pressing for a attack. eral government to overturn a local govern- vote in his bill, which would remove the Dis- For this reason, I am bringing before ment decision. trict’s stringent ban on handguns, lift a re- the House a bill that this rule would Our congressman believes people in Wash- striction against semiautomatic weapons, make in order that would restore the ington D.C., should be able to carry assault end registration requirements for ammuni- second amendment rights of D.C. citi- and handguns. tion and other firearms, and cancel criminal zens. I think it is important to note He believes that Washington police should penalties for possessing unregistered fire- that my bill would not repeal any pro- not be able to jail anyone for having unregis- arms and carrying a handgun in one’s home vision of D.C. law that bans gun posses- tered weapons. or workplace. He believes District of Columbia workers Wasting no opportunity to thumb their sion by criminals or that punishes vio- should face no criminal penalties for car- noses at D.C. residents who strongly support lent crime. rying a gun to work. the handgun bans—and to ingratiate them- The rule also makes two important The District of Columbia has banned hand- selves with gun rights groups—House Repub- changes to my bill which would clarify guns, but Souder thinks the Federal govern- lican leaders have promised Souder a vote the original intent. There has been a ment should step in and overturn this local before the Nov. 2 election. A more contempt- misrepresentation in ‘‘Dear Col- decision because Souder knows what’s better ible display of cynicism would be hard to leagues’’ to this House that said we for residents of the District of Columbia find. would allow concealed and open car- than they do. Souder maintains that his bill is not an in- rying of any firearm, loaded or un- Congressional leaders have placed a pri- cursion on home rule but rather is based on ority on Souder’s bill—cynically called the the Second Amendment’s guarantee of gun loaded, outside the owner’s property. It District of Columbia Personal Protection rights. He’s wrong, of course. The District’s did not. It said three times in the bill, Act—mostly to force House Democrats to authority to enact gun control laws has been property, home, business or other land, cast a vote on a gun control issue before successfully challenged in court. Likewise, if but this clarifies it. It also strengthens Nov. 2. Congress adopts language that denies the D.C. code by providing a more com- This misplaced priority comes days before city’s elected leaders ‘‘authority to enact plete set of exemptions based on Mary- the fiscal year will begin with 12 of the 13 laws or regulations that discourage or elimi- land law to allow citizens to transport spending bills needed to keep the govern- nate the private ownership or use of fire- unloaded, cased firearms to and from ment running yet to be approved. arms’’—as proposed by Souder—what is that lawful activities, such as hunting, tar- Many political observers believe Souder’s but a restriction on the city’s self-governing legislation has little chance in the U.S. Sen- powers? Besides, the District is hardly get shooting, and firearm safety train- ate, making the D.C. gun bill an exercise in unique: Seven states also have their own ing. political gamesmanship. bans on assault weapons. But it’s not the I want to address a number of the Souder must need the diversion, coming at Constitution that is at issue. Souder and the things that have come up during de- the end of Congress’ longest summer vaca- House GOP leadership are out to put Demo- bate. One is if someone has a gun in tion since Harry Truman was in the White crats on the defensive, especially those in their home, could someone go in and House. competitive congressional races where the rob? Of course they could. They can In a statement that has become sadly char- gun lobby might hold sway. now. It is just the person defending acteristic of our congressman, Souder com- It matters not a bit to Souder and his gun their home cannot defend their home, pared gun control to owning slaves, telling allies that the D.C. police department has its the Washington Post, ‘‘The fact is, we didn’t hands full trying to keep deadly weapons off but it is not loaded, it has to be en- allow the District to have home rule on the the streets. Last year D.C. police recovered cased and cannot be used. But if some- selling of slaves, either.’’ 1,982 firearms from criminal suspects. As of one wants to steal the guns, they can Souder’s bill earned him attention in the Sept. 8, D.C. cops had already recovered 1,385 do that now. Post and in the Sunday New York Times guns this year. Justifiable concerns that re- What happens if they go on the street shortly after receiving some publicity in peal of the city’s gun laws would worsen vio- with an illegal gun? Guess what; they U.S. News & World Report for his action on lence on D.C. streets have fallen on deaf ears are doing that now. That penalty stays another issue of vital importance to Hoo- in the U.S. Capitol. House Republicans, if in effect. If somebody steals the gun or siers—lighthouses. they have their way, would just as soon turn goes off their property with the gun, it Souder railed against a North Carolina the nation’s capital into a free-fire zone—and is already against the law. It will still congressman for wanting the Homeland Se- for cheap political reasons. curity Department to audit the group that It is small comfort to observe, as some be against the law, and all Members operates the North Carolina Currituck Beach have, that the Souder bill would have dim are arguing is the ineffectiveness of the Lighthouse. prospects in the Senate this year. This offen- law. During an unrelated hearing, Souder blast- sive and opportunistic bill should not be al- For years in the United States we ed the efforts as ‘‘one of the biggest trav- lowed to see the light of day in the House of have heard this rumor that if we ban esties of justice I have ever seen.’’ Representatives. But to say that is to hope guns, only the criminals would have Perhaps Souder is unaware of the 14 chil- that respect for the rights of District resi- guns. In D.C. that seems to have come dren who have been gunned down in Wash- dents would rank above lust for partisan ad- true, because now what we are arguing ington this year. vantage. is that people who follow the law are Perhaps he is unaware that the handgun Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. somehow going to turn into criminals. ban helped D.C. police take nearly 2,000 guns Speaker, I yield 8 minutes to the gen- away from criminal suspects last year and The people who are criminals are al- more than 1,300 so far this year. tleman from Indiana (Mr. SOUDER), the ready making Washington, D.C. the Perhaps his beloved lighthouses and efforts sponsor of this measure. murder capital of the United States 14 to embarrass Democrats have become too Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, first I of the last 15 years. How can it get important. would like to thank the gentleman worse? This page believes Washington should be from Washington (Mr. HASTINGS) for What we are doing is letting the peo- able to set its own gun-control laws but ac- bringing up a very good rule today. I ple who are in the homes, as people knowledges that honest people can disagree rise in support of this rule, and would have written in and stated, that when regarding the city’s Second Amendment like to alert all of my colleagues, the rights. But there is little doubt that right they told, even though the gun was il- now, Souder’s bill is simply a waste of Con- vote for a rule is a vote for allowing de- legal, when they said they had a gun gress’ time and does nothing to improve good bate on restoring the second amend- inside, people left the attacking of government or help his constituents in Indi- ment rights to the District of Columbia their homes. This should increase prop- ana. residents. erty values in Washington, D.C. It

VerDate Aug 04 2004 02:43 Sep 30, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29SE7.009 H29PT1 H7748 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 29, 2004 should make people safer, and I think COSPONSORS BY DATE OF H.R. 3193—Continued COSPONSORS BY DATE OF H.R. 3193—Continued it is the right thing to do. Another subject that came up was Office State First Contact R or D Office State First Contact R or D the so-called AK–47s and . They are Dennis Cardoza ...... CA 17-Jun ...... D Cliff Stearns ...... FL 3-Nov ...... R Ted Strickland ...... OH 20-Jun ...... D William Thornberry ...... TX 3-Nov ...... R constantly mentioned, but they are not Mike Ross ...... AR ...... D Scott Garrett ...... NJ 5-Nov ...... R legal to import now. Even though the Stephanie Herseth ...... D Ken Calvert ...... CA 7-Nov ...... R Earl Pomeroy ...... D Phil English ...... PA 12-Nov ...... R assault weapon ban has expired, those Jim DeMint ...... SC 3-Sep ...... R Devin Nunes ...... CA 18-Nov ...... R and other foreign-made guns were pro- Joe WIlson ...... SC 3-Sep ...... R Max Burns ...... GA 19-Nov ...... R Tim Johnson ...... IL 3-Sep ...... R Tom Tancredo ...... CO 21-Nov ...... R hibited under the Federal Firearm Im- Dan Burton ...... IN 4-Sep ...... R Jim Nussle ...... IA 24-Nov ...... R portation Act in 1989, and they will Ed Schrock ...... VA 4-Sep ...... R Tom Cole ...... OK 1-Dec ...... R Jo Ann Davis ...... VA 4-Sep ...... R Ric Keller ...... FL 9-Jan ...... R still remain prohibited. ...... TX 5-Sep ...... R Scott McInnis ...... CO 22-Jan ...... R John Carter ...... TX 5-Sep ...... R Walter Jones ...... NC 26-Jan ...... R b 1130 ...... TX 5-Sep ...... R Sue Myrick ...... NC 28-Jan ...... R ...... TX 5-Sep ...... R Dana Rohrabacher ...... CA 29-Jan ...... R We heard about so-called ‘‘cop killer David Vitter ...... LA 9-Sep ...... R John Peterson ...... PA 29-Jan ...... R bullets.’’ The fact is on the armor Dennis Rehberg ...... MT 9-Sep ...... R Mario Diaz-Balart ...... FL 29-Jan ...... R ...... TX 9-Sep ...... R Paul Ryan ...... Wisc 4-Feb ...... R piercing ammunition bill, there was a Michael Burgess ...... TX 9-Sep ...... R Joel Hefley ...... CO 9-Feb ...... R bill passed in 1986 when the Democrats Ralph Hall ...... TX 9-Sep ...... R Frank Lucas ...... OK 26-Feb ...... R ...... TX 9-Sep ...... R Nick Smith ...... MI 26-Feb ...... R controlled this House. After several ...... TX 9-Sep ...... R Darrell Issa ...... CA 9-Mar ...... R years of debate and discussion, Con- Butch Otter ...... ID 10-Sep ...... R Gary G. Miller ...... CA 11-Mar ...... R Rodney Alexander ...... LA 10-Sep ...... R Jeff Flake ...... AZ 12-Mar ...... R gress prohibited certain kinds of bul- Chris Cannon ...... UT 10-Sep ...... R Tom Latham ...... IA 22-Mar ...... R lets that could be used in a handgun Ron Paul ...... TX 10-Sep ...... R Kenny Hulshof ...... MO 25-Mar ...... R Terry Everett ...... AL 10-Sep ...... R Nicholas Lampson ...... TX 31-Mar ...... R and which were capable of defeating Adam Putnam ...... FL 11-Sep ...... R Gary Miller ...... CA 1-Apr ...... R the kinds of bullet-resistant vests that ...... TX 11-Sep ...... R Curt Weldon ...... PA 5-Apr ...... R Todd Platts ...... PA 11-Sep ...... R George Radanovich ...... CA 23-Apr ...... R police officers wear for protection. Candice Miller ...... MI 12-Sep ...... R Sherwood Boehlert ...... NY 23-Apr ...... R Some wanted to ban all ammunition. Virgil Goode ...... VA 12-Sep ...... R Charles Taylor ...... NC 26-Apr ...... R Barbara Cubin ...... WY 16-Sep ...... R Dave Weldon ...... FL 26-Apr ...... R That was defeated. It came up again. Phil Gingrey ...... GA 16-Sep ...... R Greg Walden ...... OR 28-Apr ...... R In 1997, a study conducted by the Bu- John Sullivan ...... OK 17-Sep ...... R Jo Ann Emerson ...... MO 28-Apr ...... R Ron Lewis ...... KY 17-Sep ...... R Shelley M. Capito ...... WV 4-May ...... R reau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Spencer Bachus ...... AL 22-Sep ...... R Richard Pombo ...... CA 5-May ...... R found that existing laws are working John Duncan ...... TN 23-Sep ...... R Harold Rogers ...... KY 12-May ...... R Marsha Blackburn ...... TN 23-Sep ...... R Dave Camp ...... MI 17-May ...... R and no additional legislation regarding Bill Janklow ...... SD 24-Sep ...... R Katherine Harris ...... FL 17-May ...... R such laws is necessary. The study also Bob Ney ...... OH 24-Sep ...... R Gil Gutknecht ...... MN 19-May ...... R Ernest Istook ...... OK 24-Sep ...... R Jim Gerlach ...... PA 19-May ...... R found that no law enforcement officer John Mica ...... FL 24-Sep ...... R Mark Kennedy ...... MN 1-Jun ...... R had ever been killed or even injured be- Nathan Deal ...... GA 24-Sep ...... R Steven LaTourette ...... OH 2-Jun ...... R Bob Goodlatte ...... VA 25-Sep ...... R Anne Northup ...... KY 4-Jun ...... R cause of these so-called bullets pene- Pat Toomey ...... PA 25-Sep ...... R Richard Burr ...... NC 4-Jun ...... R trating a bullet-resistant vest. It urged John Doolittle ...... CA 26-Sep ...... R Doc Hastings ...... WA 9-Jun ...... R Mac Collins ...... GA 26-Sep ...... R Don Sherwood ...... PA 9-Jun ...... R Congress to avoid any experimentation Mike Rogers (AL) ...... AL 26-Sep ...... R George Nethercutt ...... WA 9-Jun ...... R with police officer lives that could con- Roscoe Bartlett ...... MD 26-Sep ...... R Howard McKeon ...... CA 9-Jun ...... R Cass Ballenger ...... NC 29-Sep ...... R John McHugh ...... NY 9-Jun ...... R ceivably lead to numerous additional Duke Cunningham ...... CA 29-Sep ...... R John Shimkus ...... IL 9-Jun ...... R officer fatalities. Jeb Bradley ...... NH 29-Sep ...... R Jerry Moran ...... KS 14-Jun ...... R Marilyn Musgrave ...... CO 29-Sep ...... R Ed Whitfield ...... KY 15-Jun ...... R The problem here is all we are doing Roger Wicker ...... MS 29-Sep ...... R Charles Bass ...... NH 16-Jun ...... R is making D.C. in conformance with Steve King ...... IA 29-Sep ...... R John Linder ...... GA 16-Jun ...... R Thaddeus McCotter ...... MI 29-Sep ...... R Tom DeLay ...... TX 16-Jun ...... R the rest of the United States, which is Wally Herger ...... CA 29-Sep ...... R Ander Crenshaw ...... FL 17-Jun ...... R a constitutional right to bear arms, Chip Pickering ...... MS 30-Sep ...... R Ed Royce ...... CA 17-Jun ...... R Chris Chocola ...... IN 30-Sep ...... R John Boehner ...... OH 17-Jun ...... R and this rule would go forth and do Eric Cantor ...... VA 30-Sep ...... R John Sweeney ...... NY 17-Jun ...... R that. Ginny Brown-Waite ...... FL 30-Sep ...... R ...... TX 17-Jun ...... R Gresham Barrett ...... SC 30-Sep ...... R Patrick Tiberi ...... OH 17-Jun ...... R I include for printing in the CONGRES- Jeff Miller ...... FL 30-Sep ...... R Paul Gillmor ...... OH 18-Jun ...... R SIONAL RECORD the cosponsors of this Jim Gibbons ...... NV 30-Sep ...... R Jerry Lewis ...... CA 20-Jun ...... R Robin Hayes ...... NC 30-Sep ...... R Joseph Knollenberg ...... MI 20-Jun ...... R bill. Sam Graves ...... MO 30-Sep ...... R Michael Bilirakis ...... FL 20-Jun ...... R Steve Pearce ...... NM 30-Sep ...... R Elton Gallegly ...... CA 22-Jun ...... R COSPONSORS BY DATE OF H.R. 3193 Tom Feeney ...... FL 30-Sep ...... R John Shadegg ...... AZ 22-Jun ...... R Trent Franks ...... AZ 30-Sep ...... R Lincoln Diaz-Balart ...... FL 22-Jun ...... R Duncan Hunter ...... CA 1-Oct ...... R Ileana Ros-Lehtinen ...... FL 6-Jul ...... R Office State First Contact R or D Jo Bonner ...... AL 1-Oct ...... R Michael Turner ...... OH 8-Jul ...... R John Hostettler ...... IN 1-Oct ...... R Howard Coble ...... NC 15-Jul ...... R Charles Stenholm ...... TX 5-Sep ...... D Todd Akin ...... MO 1-Oct ...... R Hoekstra ...... 21-Jul ...... R ...... TX 5-Sep ...... D Henry Brown ...... SC 2-Oct ...... R Oxley ...... 21-Jul ...... R ...... LA 9-Sep ...... D John Boozman ...... AR 2-Oct ...... R Jim Kolbe ...... R Colin Peterson ...... MN 10-Sep ...... D ...... TX 3-Oct ...... R Judy Biggert ...... R Jim Matheson ...... UT 10-Sep ...... D Roy Blunt ...... MO 3-Oct ...... R Portman ...... R Brad Carson ...... OK 10-Sep ...... D John Kline ...... MN 6-Oct ...... R Regula ...... R Marion Berry ...... AR 10-Sep ...... D Johnny Isakson ...... GA 6-Oct ...... R Lincoln Davis ...... TN 10-Sep ...... D Don Young ...... AK 7-Oct ...... R ...... TX 10-Sep ...... D Mike Simpson ...... ID 7-Oct ...... R There have been a number of state- Bud Cramer ...... AL 10-Sep ...... D Rick Renzi ...... AZ 7-Oct ...... R Tim Holden ...... PA 10-Sep ...... D Bill Shuster ...... PA 8-Oct ...... R ments made about jurisdiction, process ...... TX 11-Sep ...... D Mike Pence ...... IN 8-Oct ...... R and so on. I was put under a very tough ...... TX 11-Sep ...... D Todd Tiahrt ...... KS 8-Oct ...... R Michael Michaud ...... ME 16-Sep ...... D Donald Manzullo ...... IL 9-Oct ...... R standard and that was that a majority Sanford Bishop ...... GA 17-Sep ...... D Jack Kingston ...... GA 9-Oct ...... R of this Congress had to back my bill be- Jim Marshall ...... GA 17-Sep ...... D Philip Crane ...... IL 9-Oct ...... R Solomon Ortiz ...... TX 22-Sep ...... D Charlie Norwood ...... GA 10-Oct ...... R fore it would be allowed to come to the Rick Boucher ...... VA 24-Sep ...... D Jim Ryun ...... KA 10-Oct ...... R floor. That is a very tough standard. Tim Ryan ...... OH 25-Sep ...... D Richard Baker ...... LA 14-Oct ...... R Mike McIntyre ...... NC 30-Sep ...... D Rob Bishop ...... UT 14-Oct ...... R Then after we achieved that, we were John Tanner ...... TN 30-Sep ...... D Joseph Pitts ...... PA 15-Oct ...... R told we had to have a majority of the Nick Rahall ...... WV 1-Oct ...... D Lee Terry ...... NE 15-Oct ...... R Joe Baca ...... CA 2-Oct ...... D Mike Rogers (MI) ...... MI 15-Oct ...... R Committee on Government Reform, Gene Taylor ...... MS 2-Oct ...... D Zach Wamp ...... TN 17-Oct ...... R which we have, a bipartisan majority ...... TX 7-Oct ...... D Jerry Weller ...... IL 20-Oct ...... R Ken Lucas ...... KY 8-Oct ...... D Jim McCrery ...... LA 20-Oct ...... R of the Committee on Government Re- Jerry Costello ...... IL 8-Oct ...... D Robert Aderholt ...... AL 20-Oct ...... R form. The gentleman from Virginia John Dingell ...... MI 8-Oct ...... D Bob Beauprez ...... CO 21-Oct ...... R OM AVIS Bart Gordon ...... TN 8-Oct ...... D ...... TX 21-Oct ...... R (Mr. T D ) has stated openly and John Murtha ...... PA 21-Oct ...... D Randy Forbes ...... VA 21-Oct ...... R consistently that he opposes this bill. ...... TX 23-Oct ...... D Thomas Petri ...... WI 21-Oct ...... R Bart Stupak ...... MI 19-Nov ...... D Melissa Hart ...... PA 23-Oct ...... R At the same time he also made it clear Ike Skelton ...... MO 11-Feb ...... D Billy Tauzin ...... LA 27-Oct ...... R to the Committee on Rules that he un- ...... TN 23-Feb ...... D Steve Buyer ...... IN 28-Oct ...... R Alan Mollohan ...... WV 26-Apr ...... D Deborah Pryce ...... OH 29-Oct ...... R derstood that a majority of the Com- A.B. Chandler ...... KY 5-May ...... D Fred Upton ...... MI 29-Oct ...... R mittee on Government Reform, a bipar- ...... FL 4-Jun ...... D Thomas Reynolds ...... NY 30-Oct ...... R Paul Kanjorski ...... PA 17-Jun ...... D William Jenkins ...... TN 30-Oct ...... R tisan majority of the Committee on Leonard Boswell ...... IA 17-Jun ...... D Steve Chabot ...... OH 31-Oct ...... R Government Reform, supported this

VerDate Aug 04 2004 02:43 Sep 30, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29SE7.021 H29PT1 September 29, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7749 bill and that he would approve of the Study after study is showing that guns pro- ductive both at home and abroad, with Committee on Rules going ahead, in ef- tect very few at home and result in thousands a Senate amendment thereto, disagree fect. He would still oppose the bill, still of Americans killed in family and acquaintance to the Senate amendment, and agree to does oppose the bill and always will op- quarrels, domestic violence and suicides. the conference asked by the Senate. pose the bill as he has done because he Guns obtained legally end up as weapons in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there has been very consistent on this issue. domestic or neighborhood quarrels. Is this objection to the request of the gen- But there was also a statement made what we want in our neighborhoods? What is tleman from California? as though we were, ‘‘we’’ being the Re- wrong with the mentality that it takes guns to There was no objection. publican leadership as well as outside solve problems and make people feel safe? MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES OFFERED BY groups, trying to intimidate these poor As a member of the House Select Com- MR. NEAL OF MASSACHUSETTS western Members in the United States mittee on Homeland Security, we need to be Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. who were afraid of ads. doing everything we can to keep the men and Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct First, the gentlewoman from South women who protect the nation’s capital out of conferees. Dakota (Ms. HERSETH), the gentleman harm’s way. The nation’s capital is under an The Clerk read as follows: from North Dakota (Mr. POMEROY), the orange alert. Mr. Neal of Massachusetts moves that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. EDWARDS), managers on the part of the House, on the Placing more unregulated guns in the disagreeing votes of the two Houses to the people in tough races, actually believe streets of DC undermines homeland security in gun rights. That is why they are on Senate amendment to H.R. 4520, be in- measures. Why must we compromise our own structed as follows: the bill. It is demeaning to have their homeland security efforts by bringing more 1. The House conferees shall be instructed colleagues undermine them on the handguns to the streets? Where are our prior- to include in the conference report an effec- House floor and imply that the only ities? tive rate reduction for income from produc- reason they got in the bill was for po- I have been collaborating with my colleague tion activities in the United States, and such an effective rate reduction— litical purposes. That is things like and good friend from the District of Columbia, people from our side would say about A) shall be provided in the form of a deduc- Congresswoman ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON. people from their side. Their own side tion as in the Senate amendment, and shall She can echo that DC’s current firearm laws not be provided in the form of a corporate should not be saying that. Further- are working. 97% of all guns used in crimes rate reduction, as in the House bill, more, the last I saw, the gentleman in DC originate outside of DC and 59% of B) shall be available to all businesses (in- from Michigan (Mr. DINGELL), the gen- traceable guns were first purchased in Mary- cluding farmers, farm co-operatives, sub- tleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. MUR- chapter S corporations, and other unincor- land and Virginia. In addition, 8% of traceable THA), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. porated businesses) engaged in U.S. produc- guns were bought in North Carolina, Florida, SKELTON), the gentleman from Penn- tion activity as in the Senate amendment, Georgia and South Carolina. It is a travesty C) shall include the provisions of the Sen- sylvania (Mr. KANJORSKI), the gen- that her concerns are being ignored, both by ate amendment that adjust the size of the ef- tleman from Texas (Mr. ORTIZ), the the House Rules committee and by the larger fective rate reduction based on the respec- gentleman from Texas (Mr. REYES) are body. tive portions of the taxpayer’s business in not in tough races and they are not in- As legislators, we must take our role in as the United States and overseas in order to timidated by outside groups. provide the largest effective rate reduction This bill has 45 Democratic cospon- decision makers very seriously. This includes for businesses that have not moved oper- sors in addition to the majority of the knowing when we have overstepped our ations offshore, and Republican Party. When we talk about bounds. Please, listen to the people of DC to D) shall include the provisions of the Sen- bipartisan legislation, this is bipar- hear if they want guns on their streets. ate amendment (not included in the House Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. bill) that ensure that the rate reduction will tisan legislation. The D.C. handgun ban not be available for income attributable to has failed. It has failed miserably. This Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous ques- cost savings resulting from purchasing im- bill is demanded by the people of the ported parts or outsourcing labor overseas. United States. They wrote into their tion on the resolution. 2. To the maximum extent possible within Members. Members from both parties The previous question was ordered. the scope of conference, the House conferees got on this bill. This is a good rule, and The resolution was agreed to. shall be instructed to not include any in- I hope Members will support and pass A motion to reconsider was laid on crease in tax benefits for the overseas oper- the table. ations of multinationals. this rule and pass the bill. 3. The House conferees shall be instructed f Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, to develop a conference report that will not it is unfortunate that I am here today to fight REMOVAL OF MEMBER AND AP- increase the federal deficit in either the a closed rule on what will be one of the more POINTMENT OF MEMBER TO short or long term. In doing so, the House tragic pieces of legislation that we try to pass PERMANENT SELECT COM- conferees also shall be instructed: through the House of Representatives. We MITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE A. To include in the conference report the have very important interests that are being ig- provisions of the Senate amendment that nored by this closed rule. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. eliminate tax benefits for companies that re- Guns are disproportionately killing our chil- LATHAM). Pursuant to clause 11 of rule incorporate overseas, and the provisions of the Senate amendment that restrict cor- dren in our cities and this law has no basis to I, the Chair announces the Speaker’s removal of the gentleman from New porate tax avoidance transactions, including be here in front of us today. DC has its own codification of the economic substance doc- York (Mr. BOEHLERT) from the Perma- rules regulating purchasing and owning a gun, trine and the provisions directly targeted at and we do not need to create legislation to nent Select Committee on Intelligence transactions utilized by the Enron corpora- usurp their power and go against their interest. and pursuant to clause 11 of rule X, tion, and We are drowned in rhetoric saying that a clause 11 of rule I, and the order of the B. Shall drop the provision of the House Member of Congress who does not think House of December 8, 2003, appointed bill that provides for private collection of handguns should be floating freely on our the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Federal tax liabilities. 4. The House conferees shall, as soon as BLUNT) to fill the existing vacancy streets is someone who is anti-gun and wants practicable after the adoption of this mo- to take our hunting rifles away. That is not this thereon. tion, meet in open session with the Senate bill before us. You can keep your hunting ri- f conferees, and the House conferees shall file fles, you can keep your loaded guns in your APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON a conference report consistent with the pre- ceding provisions of this instruction at a business, but you do need some semblance of H.R. 4520, AMERICAN JOBS CRE- order on the street, where a small, innocent time permitting passage before the adjourn- ATION ACT OF 2004 mistake encounter can turn into a massive ment before the election. bloodbath once guns are used instead of Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts (during words. unanimous consent to take from the the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- Right now, DC’s local laws do not prevent Speaker’s table the bill (H.R. 4520) to mous consent that the motion to in- law abiding citizens from owning a firearm. amend the Internal Revenue Code of struct be considered as read and print- Since 1976, District residents have registered 1986 to remove impediments in such ed in the RECORD. over 100,000 firearms (mostly rifles and shot- Code and make our manufacturing, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there guns) with the Metropolitan Police Department service, and high-technology businesses objection to the request of the gen- (MPD). and workers more competitive and pro- tleman from Massachusetts?

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