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Conn. Congressman Blasts Perry's Guns In Schools Comment

NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A Connecticut congressman lit into Governor Rick Perry over comments that Texas teachers should be allowed to carry guns in schools.

Democrat Jim Himes' district is close to Newtown, where 20 children and six adults were gunned down at an elementary school. During a news conference on Capitol Hill, Himes said Perry's idea that more guns are the answer is incorrect.

"The notion that more Americans quote-unquote in the words of Governor Perry 'packing heat' will make us safer is not founded in reality, in facts, or in history. It is founded in the fantasy of testosterone laden individuals who have blood on their hands."

Perry made the comments about guns in the classroom on Monday during a meeting with the Northeast Tarrant Tea Party in North Richland Hills

To prove his point Himes went on to cite the a study by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and said basically a nation with so many guns already will not be made safer with more weaponry.

"The facts, the history, the data show that that is not true," he said. "A gun in the home is 22 times more likely to be used in a suicide or a murder, then it is to be used in self-defense."

Himes made his statements with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other congressional Democrats at his side. The group called the press conference to express their support for a ban on high capacity assault magazines and assault weapons.

Governor Perry has been among the most visible politicians on the national stage to support an expansion of gun rights.

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