Representatives on both sides of the aisle fired verbal shots in the House debate over gun control. Here is a sampling of what they said:
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House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo.
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"This was done in the dead of night by design. The Republicans in the clutches of the NRA have put this process together to defeat gun control legislation," House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., said after the House vote to relax restrictions on background checks for buying guns. "This whole process was an abomination. The NRA won last night."
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Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Fla.
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Speaking in support of an amendment that would reduce the waiting period for gun show purchases, Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Fla., said, "We need this legislation. We need to close the loophole. We need to keep the guns out of the hands of criminals. Requiring purchasers of the gun show to wait three working days might mean that the sale is not completed until well after the gun show is over."
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Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill.
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Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill. said, "We have a serious problem, but it goes so far beyond guns. There is a Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights that says the right of people to bear arms not be infringed."
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Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y.
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"Mothers, fathers, who have lost their children, wives that have lost their love ones, this is important to them. We have an opportunity here in Washington to stop playing games," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y.
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Rep. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
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Rep. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said, "LetÂ's punish those who break the laws. LetÂ's enforce the laws on the books. We donÂ't need to punish law abiding citizens. We donÂ't need more gun control legislation. I will oppose all attempts to chip away bill of rights."
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Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.
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Targeting his remarks at his opponents, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., said, "You want criminals to get guns. If you didnÂ't want criminals to get guns, you would want to close the loopholes."
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Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga.
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"This is not a vote for gun control," said Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga. "It is a vote to preserve gun shows as legitimate business enterprises in this country."
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John Lewis, D-Ga.
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"What will it take before we act, another Littleton, another Paducah, another Conyers, another Jonesboro," asked John Lewis, D-Ga. "We need raw courage to protect our children."