[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 123 (Wednesday, August 24, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 HOMICIDES BY GUNSHOT IN NEW YORK CITY

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise, as has been my practice 
each week in this session of the 103d Congress, to announce to the 
Senate that during the last week, 23 people were killed in New York 
City by gunshot, bringing this year's total to 644.
  The tragedy of gun violence in America continues unabated. Statistics 
which would once have shocked us have become commonplace. Americans 
have become desensitized to the killings that go on every day on our 
streets and in our homes.
  Nonetheless, nothing is more disturbing than to read reports such as 
the one by New York Newsday on Tuesday, August 16. According to the 
report: ``Christine Baez, 5 months, was accidentally shot in the head 
by her father in their Bushwick apartment.'' Mr. President, in all 
likelihood, Christine's father purchased his gun to protect himself and 
his daughter. How tragic and ironic it is that this very gun took the 
life of his infant daughter.
  According to the October 7, 1993, issue of the New England Journal of 
Medicine, keeping a firearm in the home increases the likelihood that a 
death will result by nearly three times. Whether used accidentally or 
as a means to settle an altercation, the mere presence of firearms in 
the home puts in jeopardy the lives of thousands of others like 
Christine Baez.
  Mr. President, the problem of accidental deaths and suicides 
resulting from the use of firearms is indeed severe. But more pressing, 
however, is the problem of intentional homicides. By the year's end, 
New York City alone will witness the death of well over 1,000 victims 
of intentional gun violence. Today, as the Senate resumes consideration 
of the crime bill conference report, we have a rare opportunity to do 
something about this senseless violence.
  The crime bill before the Senate will keep dangerous assault weapons 
out of the hands of criminals. It will keep firearms out of the hands 
of juveniles, who today account for a startling percentage of those 
committing violent crimes. Finally, the bill contains a provision by 
the Senator from New York that will ban a new class of armor-piercing 
cop-killer bullets.
  I intend to vote for the crime bill--if only for those important gun 
and ammunition control measures--and I hope my colleagues will do 
likewise.

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