[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           STOP THE VIOLENCE

  (Ms. DUNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, there are no words to describe the tragedy 
that took place yesterday at Columbine High School in Colorado. As a 
mother, I can only empathize with those parents who were waiting for 
hours to find out if their son or daughter was able to leave that 
school safely.
  These young people have seen more in a few hours than any of our 
Nation's children should see in a lifetime. Parents whose children were 
one month from graduating, one month from starting a brand-new chapter 
in their lives are now grieving with an inconceivable loss. This 
community has a heartache no one in his worst nightmare could ever have 
imagined.
  After the school shooting in Springfield, Oregon last year, the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and I teamed up in an effort to do 
something to stop the violence on our Nation's school grounds. There is 
no cure-all, but the Schoolyard Safety Act will help by beginning 
awareness before the tragedy occurs.
  We know that legislation is not the final solution. High school 
students at Columbine reported they knew the suspects in the shooting 
were troubled, youths who needed our help long before the tragedy 
occurred. But how do we help these children before they act out 
violence?
  A discussion needs to take place with our students across the Nation. 
We need to talk to our children, after they get home from school, every 
night at the dinner table, on weekends, to find out what they are 
thinking, what they are feeling. The solution is found with our 
children.
  Mr. Speaker, nothing can stop the heartache of the community of 
Littleton, Colorado. We can only pray for students and families and 
pull our communities together to stop violence.

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