Black Congressman to Jewish Democrats: Gun Owners are Racists

Rep. Alcee Hastings told an audience of Jewish Democrats Wednesday that they should be wary of Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin because “anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks.” [More]

Oh, I dunno, Mr. Ethics--it's not us trying to disarm them, it's you and your fellow traitors in government, who made the following declaration of war a while back:

INTRODUCTION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT OF 1993 -- HON. MAJOR R. OWENS (Extension of Remarks - September 23, 1993)

[Page: E2233]
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HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

in the House of Representatives

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1993

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Public Health and Safety Act of 1993 on behalf of myself and nine of my colleagues: Mel Reynolds, Bill Clay, Jerry Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, John Lewis, Nydia Velazquez, Ron Dellums, Carrie Meek, and Alcee Hastings. This legislation, first introduced in the Senate by Senator John Chafee, would prohibit the transfer or possession of handguns and handgun ammunition, except in limited circumstances. It would go a long way toward protecting our citizens from violent crime.

The need for a ban on handguns cannot be overstated. Unlike rifles and shotguns, handguns are easily concealable. Consequently, they are the weapons of choice in most murders, accounting for the deaths of 25,000 Americans in 1991.

Most other industrialized countries have virtual bans on handgun sales, which account for the vast difference in homicide rates between the United States and these other nations. In 1987, the U.S. homicide rate for men of the ages 15 to 24 was 22 per 100,000, compared to 0.5 for Japan, 1.0 for Germany, and 1.2 for England.

Gun violence is getting worse in this country, not better. In either 1990 or 1991, San Diego, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Washington, New York, Boston, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Oakland, Colorado Springs, Minneapolis, Rochester, New Orleans, and Columbus all surpassed their previous murder records.

If we do not act now, the gun culture will continue to thrive, growing like a fungus in our schools, and sapping our health care system of its much needed resources.

No longer do students bring apples to school for their teachers. Instead, approximately 100,000 students bring guns to school each day. From 1986 to 1990, at least 71 students and employees were killed by guns at school; 201 were wounded; and 242 were held hostage. And in January 1992 at Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, a student killed one teen and another bystander, bringing the school's death toll for the school year to 56.

We cannot expect our children to learn in the classroom if they are looking over their shoulders to see if the next bullet has their name on it. A 1991 school crime survey conducted by the Department of Justice revealed that 37 percent of public school students and 27 percent of private school students fear attack at or on the way to school.

We also cannot expect to reign in the costs of our health care system if emergency rooms are overflowing with victims of gun violence. Hospitals across the Nation are closing affiliated trauma centers because of the spiraling costs associated with treating gunshot wounds. From 1989 to 1991, the average per-patient cost of gunshot wounds at a major New York hospital was $9,646. None of this even considers the costs of ambulance services, follow-up care, medication, and rehabilitation. The estimated cost of firearms injury to the U.S. health care system exceeds $4 billion per year.

The Public Health and Safety Act would abate the rising tide of handgun violence. It would prohibit the importation, exportation, manufacture, sale, purchase, transfer, receipt, possession, or transportation of handguns and handgun ammunition. Violators would be subject to penalties of up to $5,000 and up to 5 years in prison.

A 6-month grace period would be established during which time handguns could be turned in to any law enforcement agency with impunity and for reimbursement at the greater of $25 or the fair market value of the handgun. After the grace period's expiration, handguns could be turned in voluntarily with impunity from criminal prosecution, but a civil fine of $500 would be imposed.

Exemptions from the handgun ban would be permitted for Federal, State, or local government agencies, including military and law enforcement; collectors of antique firearms; federally licensed handgun sporting clubs; federally licensed professional security guard services; and federally licensed dealers, importers, or manufacturers.

I urge the Judiciary Committee to consider this legislation without delay, in conjunction with the President's crime package. While passage of the Brady bill would help to reduce gun violence by requiring a 5-day waiting period on handgun purchases and encouraging law enforcement agencies to conduct background checks, it would be an initial step toward stemming gun violence, instead of the giant leap forward this country so desperately needs.

The Public Health and Safety Act of 1993 represents a moderate, middle-of -the-road approach to handgun control which deserves the support of all members of Congress who want to stop gun murders now. If this legislation is not passed swiftly, handguns will continue to be sold over the counter as easily as aspirin; the Nation's at-risk youth will continue to attempt to resolve their problems by turning to handgun violence; and all of us will continue to fear for our lives when we step out of our homes at night.

I wonder if it's an indicator of sorts that he spelled "rein in" with a "g"? Well, at least we know what they mean by "a moderate, middle-of-the-road approach."

Hastings' latest accusation, of course, is nothing but vile slander. Those who applaud it are nothing less than domestic enemies. If you'd like to tell this Marxist piece of crap what you think of him, please do.