[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRESS MUST PASS COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, last week, in the dead of the night, the 
Republican leadership responded to the tragedy in Littleton, Colorado, 
by trying to weaken gun safety laws. Instead of taking up the 
bipartisan measures already approved by the other Chamber, the 
Republican leadership joined with the NRA to kill common-sense gun 
safety measures and blow holes in the Brady law. Now, we are back to 
square one.
  But I am an optimist, and I believe that this body can do what is 
right for America. I call on my colleagues to meet us halfway, close 
the loophole once and for all that allows criminals to arm themselves 
at gun shows without any background check at all. Let us ensure that 
handguns are sold with child safety locks so that children do not 
accidentally hurt themselves or anyone else when they find a weapon at 
home.
  These are mainstream ideas that parents and families in the country 
want passed. The cost of delay is steep. Thirteen children are killed 
every day with guns. One hundred thousand guns are brought to schools 
every year. Let us take up gun legislation that will keep guns in 
responsible hands.

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