[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REGARDING LATEST SHOOTING IN ATLANTA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HASTERT. Madam Speaker, the latest shooting in an Atlanta school 
is deeply troubling. My wife is a teacher in a public school. My kids 
have gone to a public school. I taught for a lot of years in a public 
school.
  I fervently believe that every child deserves to learn in a good 
school and in a safe environment. But how can we create such an 
environment if it is the children themselves who make the schools 
unsafe?
  Clearly, we need to tighten current laws to make it more difficult 
for kids to get guns. We will take a look at the measure passed by the 
Senate to make sure that it is a reasonable and common sense approach.
  We also need to more effectively enforce the laws that are already on 
the books and to prosecute those who break the laws. But these measures 
will fall short if we do not effectively address the deeper problems 
that face our society and our children.
  Our children need to learn the differences between right and wrong. 
They need moral instruction. They need a culture that reinforces 
positive values that help create a safer and more secure society.
  It is more difficult to be a parent today. We feel the need to work 
harder just to keep pace with the neighbors. All too often, parents are 
forced to worry first about their jobs and then about their kids. And 
it is becoming more and more difficult for parents to monitor what 
their kids are watching, hearing, and learning.
  I support free expression, but there is a point where unbridled free 
expression undermines a free society. I challenge the entertainment 
industry, the Internet industry, the video game industry, and the media 
to become good corporate citizens. Monitor the material that flows to 
our kids.
  I applaud the Disney Company for taking some steps in the right 
direction, but the whole industry must join in the cause. Keep casual 
gunplay out of the movies. Keep hate music out of the music stores. 
Keep bomb-making web sites off the Internet. Do not make video games so 
violent that they warp young minds.
  Free expression does not necessarily have to lead to moral chaos. Let 
us join together in finding ways to help parents raise their children 
to be good productive citizens.

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