[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HOUSE SHOULD PASS GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY BREAK

  (Ms. DeGETTE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, the recent spate of school shootings has 
left us all saddened, stunned and determined to do something. It is 
time for all of us to respond to the outrage of the American people. 
The public wants us to protect children from random gun violence, and 
they want action on child gun safety legislation. We need to act and we 
need to act now. Every day we wait, another 13 children die at the 
hands of a gun.
  I do not believe that legislation is the only solution to this 
complex problem of youth violence, but I do believe that the easy 
availability of firearms is a clear contributing problem. That is why 
my Democratic colleagues and I urge the leadership to bring three 
reasonable gun safety bills to the House floor this week. These three 
bills are similar to the legislation enacted in the Senate and are 
commonsense solutions to some of the problems we face.
  First is a bill that requires background checks for all firearms 
sales at gun shows. Second, a bill that requires all handguns to be 
fitted with child safety locks. And, finally, banning large ammunition 
magazines. Let us do it this week.

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