[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEBATE ON GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, before Mother's Day, I joined with 
congressional women House Members to call on the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Dennis Hastert) to schedule a debate on gun safety 
legislation by June 20th, Father's Day.
  What I am hearing from mothers and fathers in my district is, ``It is 
the guns, stupid.'' The tragedy in Littleton is just another grim 
reminder that gun violence is rampant, that our children are in danger, 
and that no community is immune from senseless violence.
  In my suburban community of Evanston, Illinois, alone I have been to 
three funerals in the last 2 years of children killed by guns in the 
hands of our children.
  For the sake of the millions of parents who see their children off to 
school every day, Congress must act. And there are sensible bills that 
we can act on. It is time to strengthen our laws to keep firearms out 
of the hands of children and to break the cycle of juvenile violence.
  I feel that I owe it to my granddaughter, Isabelle, and to all the 
children in the United States and urge Americans everywhere to send a 
message to the Speaker: Let us debate this issue.

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