We need to ban assault weapons. We need to ban the high-capacity clips and magazines. We need serious background information, system upgrade.

I'm a big supporter of the Second Amendment. But I think I have a First Amendment right not to be shot.

All eyes, all attention at the federal level, are on al Qaeda and the war on terror. Fact is, al Qaeda wouldn't last a day in parts of Philadelphia. I've got gangsters with .45s that would run them out of town.

Politics in Philadelphia is a contact sport.

Everyone felt comfortable with these guys and what their vision was, and when they said they want to keep the staff intact, that was very encouraging.

Whether it's on the streets of Philadelphia or New York or Chicago or Atlanta or in a classroom in Newtown, Connecticut, people want to be safe.

We need to ban assault weapons. We need to ban the high-capacity clips and magazines. We need serious background information, system upgrade.