[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 14, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H5462-H5463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MODEST GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION KILLED WITH BACKROOM ARM TWISTING

  (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, yesterday, the Republican leadership killed 
modest gun safety legislation, not once, but three times. Backroom arm 
twisting by high-powered members of the NRA left the 13 members of the 
Committee on Appropriations switching their votes on sensible reforms.
  We could have closed the loophole on background checks at gun shows,

[[Page H5463]]

banned the importation of high-capacity ammunition clips, and ensured 
that all handguns come with child safety locks. But instead, there is 
no progress to report, only partisanship.
  We have been waiting for months for the Republican leadership to act 
on this issue. Thirteen children are killed every day by guns. Yet, on 
this side of the aisle, we are stymied and stonewalled at every turn.
  The Republican leadership is woefully out of step with American 
parents. Youth violence is a complex problem. It requires several 
answers. Parental involvement, safe schools, better discipline, and 
violence in the media are all involved, but gun safety is part of this 
puzzle. Now is the wrong time to do the bidding of the National Rifle 
Association.
  I urge the Speaker, take up sensible measures passed by the Senate. 
Appoint conferees immediately. Acting now is the right thing to do. We 
have already waited too long, and too many youngsters have died.

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