[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H8100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Woolsey] is recognized 
during morning business for 2 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, each year over 150,000 incidents of 
domestic violence involve a gun.
  In April, a woman in the district I represent was shot to death by 
her husband, even though she had a restraining order against him.
  Last week, a Ventura County sheriff's deputy, responding to a 
domestic violence call, was killed by a man with a long criminal 
record.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to put an end to this insanity.
  That is why I am applauding President Clinton for announcing his 
support today for legislation, sponsored by Congressman Bob Torricelli, 
which will prohibit people convicted of a domestic violence offense 
from purchasing a gun.
  I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense way to prevent 
tragedy.
  It is simple: Wife-beaters, child abusers, and other domestic 
violence offenders should not have access to a gun. Period.

                          ____________________