[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 36 (Thursday, March 26, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         YOUTH FIREARM VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, 2 days the ago the Nation was shocked when 
two adolescent boys opened fire on the students at Westside Middle 
School in Jonesboro, Arkansas, which killed four students and a 
teacher. Eleven others were wounded. One of the boys had told his 
friends that he had a lot of killing to do, according to the police.
  Teacher Shannon Wright died trying to shield another student from the 
deadly fire. She was 32, the mother of a 2\1/2\ year old son. The 
police found a cache of guns at the site.
  Just yesterday, a 14-year-old boy in Daly City, California tried to 
shoot his school principal, Matteo Rizzo, who had disciplined the boy 
last week for fighting with a schoolmate. The shot fortunately missed 
Rizzo and lodged in the wall behind him.
  Today I have had a report from my home district of Indianapolis that 
a 7-year-old boy brought a loaded gun to school in his knapsack. When 
confronted by teachers, the boy said he had been threatened and brought 
the gun to school for his protection.
  Last December, a boy opened fire on a student prayer circle at a high 
school in West Paducah, Kentucky, killing three students and wounding 
five. Two months earlier, two students died in a shooting in Pearl, 
Mississippi. And in December, a student wounded two students when he 
opened fire in a school in Stamps, Arkansas.
  Mr. Speaker, we are facing a crisis when young kids can get guns 
easily and take them to school. Marion County, Indiana, a part of which 
I represent, has seen 115 children die by firearms in the last 5 years. 
Of these deaths, 33 were from handguns. Statewide in Indiana, some 40 
children 19 and younger committed suicide with firearms in 1995. Four 
of these suicides were by children aged 10 to 14. Eighteen children 
died from firearm accidents in 1995.
  Nationwide, more than 1,000 children aged 14 and younger committed 
suicide with firearms from 1986 to 1992, according to the Center to 
Prevent Handgun Violence. More than 1,700 were killed in accidents. An 
average of 14 teenagers and children are killed by guns each day.
  Children committing acts of violence are not the only problem we have 
with children and guns. Adults carelessly leave guns around children 
and can be just as dangerous. Just this past Sunday in Indianapolis, a 
3-year-old boy accidentally shot and critically wounded his mother's 
boyfriend. This man allowed a 3-year-old to hold his 9-millimeter 
handgun. Apparently the gun owner removed the ammunition clip but 
failed to remove the one round in the firing chamber. The boy pulled 
the trigger and the bullet struck the owner in the abdomen.
  Two years ago, Michelle Miller of Indianapolis lost her 3-year-old 
son when a boyfriend let the child play with his gun. The gun went off, 
killing the child. As part of her sentence, Michelle is telling her 
story in public and urging families with guns to keep the weapons away 
from their children.
  Mr. Speaker, what are 3-year-olds doing with guns? The Indianapolis 
Police Department responded to the most recent incident saying that gun 
owners should keep their weapons locked and out of the reach of 
children.
  According to the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, half of all gun 
owners keep their firearms in an unlocked area. One fourth keep their 
firearms unlocked and loaded, leaving their guns very vulnerable to 
threat, accidental shooting, suicides, and homicides.
  Fortunately, we in Congress can do something to increase the safety 
of guns that are kept in homes and to keep guns out of the hands of 
children. H.R. 1047 that requires that handguns come equipped with 
safety locks is one such measure. A safety lock fits over the trigger 
of the gun, disabling the weapon until it is removed. With safety 
locks, parents would be able to secure guns and prevent their use 
either by their children or someone who steals their guns. We cannot 
force parents to use safety locks, but we can make sure that they are 
provided with a safety lock which every gun should carry.
  That bill that I referenced is a simple, commonsense solution that we 
should enact immediately, and that is to require that trigger locks be 
placed on unattended guns so that our children cannot just use them 
wantonly. Perhaps we could look at ways to lock guns when they are 
manufactured, and require manufacturers to implement trigger lock 
devices in the manufacturing of firearms. And yes, I know that gun 
lobbies across this country would be opposed to this, but we as Members 
of Congress must step up very boldly and responsibly and act 
accordingly to the sentiments of this country and to the protection of 
our children.

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