PERSPECTIVE ON THE CRIME BILL : Terrible Weapons, Terrible Votes : How can Congress, composed of good and decent people, possibly be opposed to a ban on assault weapons?

As presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, I have visited congressional offices numerous times. Each time I have entered the impressive halls of the member’s offices, I have, like everyone, been compelled to submit to a metal detector check to be sure I was not carrying any kind of weapon. This is a sensible practice, given the violence of so much of our society today, and I’m sure is appreciated by the members of Congress.

And that is why I find it incredible that so many of these same members in the House voted down the omnibus crime bill because they opposed the ban on assault weapons. They surely know what it means to be the potential target of gun-crazed people. Why, then, did they vote against the ban of these terrible weapons, knowing that the good people who live in our nation’s inner-cities do not have metal detectors to protect themselves?

I ask this question very seriously. I have been deeply impressed by the dedication of our congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle. They are good people, decent and competent. Thus, it is all the more so that I cannot believe that any member of Congress could oppose a ban on assault weapons. Why would we want any private citizen to carry such weapons? Of what possible use are they to a civilized society?

This is a deeply moral issue; it is about protecting, rather than destroying, the dignity of human beings.

And yet, people whom I respect and admire and whose company I have enjoyed, blocked the crime bill precisely because of this provision.

One member who voted this way told me last year that he has to listen to what people say in his district, and if I want him to support the concerns of the Episcopal Church, he’d better hear from some constituents who agree with me. It wasn’t a brush-off. In fact, he wanted very much to hear from these people because his true sympathies lie with them. But he also must count votes. And, in this case, the vote count back home told him to vote against the ban, even though I am certain he would gladly see these weapons go.

But that’s not good enough. When a once-respectable organization like the National Rifle Assn. becomes a tool of the weapon makers and turns into the enemy of reasonableness and threatens the health of our inner-cities in order to turn profits, I expect the good people in the House and Senate to show them the door and take their purses with them.

If we need any more evidence for the necessity of campaign finance reform against special interests, we only need to look at the insanity of the vote against the ban on assault weapons.

This is not to say that I am an unparalleled champion of the crime bill. It is so complex and embraces so much that no one can like every part of it. If I had to cast my ballot, I would be hard-pressed to vote yes because of all the new death-penalty provisions. I have never felt it was in the best interests of our society to practice the very thing we so abhor, the taking of human life. If the crime bill fails because some members share my views on the death penalty and vote against it, I respect that. But if it fails because of opposition to the ban on assault weapons, then I weep for the soul of our nation.

President Clinton invited me to have breakfast with him earlier this month to engage in a discussion on civility and the role of religion in the public arena. Civility is a word beyond politeness; it is an expression that helps us define who we are as a nation and people. And in a civil society, there is clearly no place for these dreadful weapons that destroy lives and the youth of our land. The President is certainly agreed on this point.

He, too, is a very able man, big of heart and working flat-out to improve the quality of life in our country. I hope he doesn’t back down in refusing to delete the assault weapons ban from the crime bill.

And I hope enough members of Congress can break the strength of the gun lobby and vote for peace in our most troubled communities. Hang in there, Mr. President! I salute you and all those good people in the Congress who know better, and, hopefully, will do better the next time around.