Following is the full text of Democratic candidate John F. Kerry's speech on assault weapons.
KERRY: Thank you, all of you, for being here this morning.
I particularly am pleased to be here at the Thurgood Marshall Center. For so many years, this place has given our children the gift of hope. And today I'm proud to stand with heroes, people who put their lives on the line every single day, every call; whether it's a domestic call or just stopping a car, carries the risk of death. And these folks are heroes, and I'm proud to stand with them today in their efforts on a daily basis to make certain that our children can live the hope that this center represents in the streets of America.
(APPLAUSE)
We're grateful to them.
Thank you.
I really can't tell you how grateful I am. I'm touched personally and honored by the endorsement today and the endorsements that I've received from police officers before today.
I want to thank the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers for their endorsement today.
And these organizations, along with the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, an international union of police associations, and police officers all across America, are standing with me in this campaign because they know that we need to set a new direction for our country.
And like me and like you, they are tired of a president who takes cops off the streets with one hand and puts assault weapons -- military assault weapons back on with the other.
(APPLAUSE)
It's an honor for me to be here with the mayor of this city, Anthony Williams, who struggles with this every day. And I want to run through each of these people because it's important they're here.
And their being here, Mr. President, makes a statement about the choice that you have made.
I'm here with Congressman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who's been a champion, fighting for protecting young kids and making our streets safer and helping our communities to build themselves.
