I think, as I said, what Governor Florio did and what Governor Wilder did, I think will contribute to Americans facing this and trying to reconcile our absolute obligation under the Constitution to give people the right to handle a firearm responsibly and our obligation to try to preserve peace and keep these kids alive in our cities.
Bill Clinton
March 1, 1993
Remarks in discussion with National Service Volunteers
[Florio banned the sale and severely restricting the possession of semi-automatic rifles and pistols in New Jersey. Wilder implemented gun rationing in Virginia. Notice that Clinton talks about “giving a right“? If something is “given“ then it isn’t a right, it’s a privilege. And then just seven months later he talks about doing weapons sweeps. A reminder of how far we have come in recent years.]