[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 107 (Wednesday, September 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1472-E1473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WE NEED COMMONSENSE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION NOW

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                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 2000

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity 
to join the Gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Rush Holt.
  We know the Congress will soon adjourn and we have not done anything 
to approve commonsense gun legislation.
  That is why we are calling on Speaker Hastert to direct the Juvenile 
Justice Conferees to meet and complete action on the Juvenile Justice 
Bill. We request other colleagues to join us.
  Earlier this year, the Million Mom March came to Washington and to 
more than 60 cities around the country. I addressed this march that 
united moms, dads, sons and daughters behind a common goal.
  They urged the Congress to stop its delay and move forward with gun 
safety legislation. Now it is time for the Congress to stop stalling 
and to enact this gun safety legislation.
  To date, I regret the Congress has accomplished next to nothing to 
enact commonsense gun safety legislation.
  Have we closed the gun show loophole that permits criminals to get 
guns easily? No!
  Have we required gun manufacturers to install child safety locks on 
all new guns? No!
  Have we banned the importation of high-capacity ammunition clips on 
assault rifles? No!
  As Members of the Education and Workforce Committee, both of us are 
committed to reducing classroom size, ensuring after-school programs 
and increasing student achievement test scores. We can accomplish none 
of these things, unless we have safe schools first.
  In my home state of New York, I have worked closely with Gov. George 
Pataki and

[[Page E1473]]

our state lawmakers so that we were able to enact strong commonsense 
gun safety legislation this year.
  I am proud our state now has a law that closes the gun show loophole 
and requires child safety locks on guns. Now we need national 
commonsense gun legislation.
  The House Leadership and the gun lobby have maintained their alliance 
to block the consideration of this commonsense gun legislation.
  I urge the American people to send a message to the House leadership 
to reject the gun lobby and enact real gun safety legislation before we 
adjourn for the year.
  Mr. Speaker, the new school year has just begun. We need to give 
parents greater assurance that their children will be safe while they 
are attending school.
  But the truth is the Congress must do more. We can close the gun show 
loophole. We can require child safety locks. We can ban high-capacity 
ammunition clips.

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