District of Columbia Personal Protection Act

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT -- (House of Representatives - September 29, 2004)

Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 803, I call up the bill (H.R. 3193) to restore second amendment rights in the District of Columbia, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this legislation.

Nearly thirty years ago, handguns were banned in Washington, D.C. by the will of the people. Yet here we are, once again, dictating to the citizens of the District of Columbia the laws that govern them when their own elected delegate will not even have the opportunity to vote on passage of this bill. Like any metropolitan area, Washington, D.C. has crime, much of which is because of guns. Therefore, I do not understand why the Majority thinks the solution to that problem is allowing more guns on the streets of this city. We should be reducing crime by preventing gun violence and by ensuring that there are enough policemen who have the necessary resources to do their jobs. At a time when citizens from across the nation have returned to D.C., despite their security concerns, to enjoy its attractions, we should not be passing legislation that sends the message that the city is unsafe.

I urge my colleagues to vote "no" on this legislation.

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