[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1125-H1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BEFORE NEW GUN LAW, ENFORCE ONES ON BOOKS

  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, it reflects well on the human condition 
that tragedy often brings out the best in people: compassion, resolve, 
understanding. Sometimes, unfortunately, a tragedy can also release the 
darker human impulses: cynicism, dishonesty, and opportunism. It is a 
regret that many times individuals will take advantage of a tragedy to 
promote an ill-conceived agenda.
  Last month, the Nation was stunned by the shocking death of 6-year-
old Kayla Rolland in Mount Morris Township, Michigan. This young girl 
was killed in a classroom by a fellow student, a 6-year-old boy. This 
loss echoed beyond the family involved, her school, and their 
community. It touched all of us, evoking a sense of nationwide grief 
and dread.
  Madam Speaker, sadly, it was not long before the heartbreaking death 
of this girl was transformed into a means of a lot of political points. 
That very day, the President announced that this tragedy should be an 
election issue. He went on to demand passage of various gun-control 
measures.
  First, we should look at the facts of this matter and consider what 
difference this administration's proposals would have made. Chuck Green 
of the Denver Post did this for us when he asked these questions in a 
recent column:
  Did the little boy have a concealed-carry permit?
  Did the little boy purchase the weapon from an independent dealer 
after failing a background check by a licensed dealer at a gun show?
  Did the little boy use false identification when purchasing the 
weapon?
  Did the little boy use an illegal automatic weapon in the assault?
  Did the little boy have an older person, possibly a 9-year-old child, 
purchase this gun on his behalf?
  The answer to this killing is not to be found in too few gun laws, 
but rather in how this boy was raised. He was living with his uncle and 
another man, sleeping on the couch in the living room.
  It was a home reportedly with a constant flow of strangers seeking 
crack and trading guns. The .32 caliber pistol used to kill the girl 
was stolen.
  Now, I expect that some of my colleagues would claim that child 
safety locks would have prevented the shooting in the classroom. Now, 
selling crack is illegal, as is trading for guns. Do they really think 
that these individuals would have obeyed a law requiring safety locks?
  I would also remind my colleagues that Michigan already has a number 
of State laws targeting gun violence on the books. These are some of 
the laws: prohibit selling any firearm to a minor under 18; prohibit 
possession of a handgun by person under age 18; prohibit possession of 
any firearms, including BB guns on school property; prohibit possession 
of even a BB gun beyond the yard of a minor's home unless accompanied 
by a person over 18; prohibit intentionally pointing, even without 
malice, any firearm at another person; require that all handguns must 
be registered; require a license to purchase a handgun from a dealer or 
a private individual; void the handgun license if not used within 10 
days of issuance; require theft of a gun to be reported to police 
within 5 days of discovery.
  Gun violence is a scourge on our Nation, and we have a responsibility 
to tackle this plague, not with empty gestures, but with solid action. 
Instead of

[[Page H1126]]

passing new gun laws, we should enforce those already on the books.
  Here in Washington, for example, there are 2,400 violent crimes 
committed with firearms in 1998. Only two criminals were prosecuted in 
Federal court for these gun crimes. This is not uncommon. A study by 
Syracuse University found that Federal prosecution of gun crimes has 
dropped, has dropped by 44 percent since 1993.
  However, only a 2-hour drive from here, where I am speaking, vigorous 
Federal action has helped to reduce gun homicides in Richmond, 
Virginia, by one half. Project Exile is an effective, anti-violence 
program promising Federal prosecution and an additional 5 years in jail 
for felons caught with a gun. In Richmond, more prosecutions under 
Federal gun laws took place than in California, New Jersey, New York, 
and Washington, D.C. combined.
  The President and his supporters want to create a false sense of 
security by enacting more laws with little or no real impact on the 
problem. A stronger commitment to enforcing the laws already on the 
books will do far more to protect our communities and our school rooms 
from gun violence.

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