[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MANDATORY GUN SHOW BACKGROUND CHECK ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 18, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2122) to 
     require background checks at gun shows, and for other 
     purposes;

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the 
Conyers' Democratic Substitute Amendment to H.R. 2122, the Mandatory 
Gun Show Background Check Act. Today, in this sacred chamber, we have 
an opportunity to address this nation's most pressing problem, gun 
violence, in a meaningful and effective fashion. We have a mandate from 
the people to take action that stems the tide of violence that is 
sweeping across our nation from Washington, DC to Chicago and LA. The 
biggest victim of this tide of violence is our children. From Chicago's 
west side to Colorado and over to Georgia, we have felt the pain of 
lost precious lives. Now, before we lose another precious life, we must 
take meaningful action.
  Today, we have the opportunity to put in place meaningful gun control 
legislation, a task that we failed to complete last nite. Lets close 
the gun show loophole, lets ban the importation of large ammunition 
clips, lets raise the age to possess a handgun and semi-automatic 
weapon, lets make sure that every gun is sold with a safety device, 
lets adopt the Conyers' substitute. Why do we need these protections. 
Well I'll tell you why, in Chicago we have a gun problem, our children 
are shooting children. In 1997 firearms were used in over \3/4\ of the 
murders committed in Chicago. What makes this statistic so disturbing 
is that over half of the persons committing murder were under the age 
of 21. In 1997 Chicago had 246 murders of people under the age of 21 
and there were 290 people under the age of 21 charged with committing 
murder. Chicago contributes more than its fair share of children to a 
terrible statistical category: children killed too soon by hand guns, 
and it must stop. How can we in good conscious let this situation go 
on. Did you know that since 1969 that firearms are the leading cause of 
death among African-American youths? For thirty years handguns have 
been killing African-American youth and we still debate whether or not 
we need this common sense gun legislation. When will we take this 
necessary action?
  Now is not the time for loopholes in the bill that's trying to close 
loopholes. No one here is saying that someone can't own a gun, all they 
are saying is you have to wait, that your background must be checked 
out, and that children should not have guns. These are simple, straight 
forward, common sense proposals. Lets do it and make America safer and 
better. Lets not fail America's children again, lets take this 
opportunity to the right thing and pass meaningful gun reform.

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