[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 34 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TIME TO MOVE FORWARD ON GUN LEGISLATION IS NOW

  (Mr. FORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, next month, very soon, we will unfortunately 
mark the 1-year anniversary of the tragedy at Columbine High School. 
Unfortunately, sensible gun control or legislation still languishes 
here in the Congress.
  Forty-three percent of households in America with children have guns. 
Nothing is wrong with that. It would seem to me, though, that those of 
us in this Congress, in the face of horrors and tragedies around the 
Nation, would feel compelled to act.
  In my home State of Tennessee, 95 percent of background checks for 
those who wish to purchase guns take place within 2 hours. Only 5 
percent require additional information from law enforcement 
authorities.
  Is it that much of an inconvenience, I say to those Members of the 
other side and even on my side, those in the National Rifle 
Association, and those in the gun lobby community? Is it that much to 
wait to ensure that we are able to cut down on human loss? Is it that 
much to wait to ensure that children, indeed, would be safer?
  The conferees in the House and Senate have not met since August. I 
applaud the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) for bringing a 
motion to instruct the conferees to meet. Let the leadership in the 
House and Senate call the meeting of the Senate conferees. Let us do 
right by our children.

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