[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 123 (Thursday, September 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9558-S9559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 162--DESIGNATING OCTOBER 17, 2001, AS A ``DAY OF 
         NATIONAL CONCERN ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE AND GUN VIOLENCE''

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Ms. 
Cantwell, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Daschle, Mr. 
Dayton, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Jeffords, 
Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Levin, Ms. Mikulski, 
Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Ms. 
Stabenow, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Torricelli, and Mr. Thurmond) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 161

       Whereas young people are our Nation's most important 
     resource, and we, as a society, have a vested interest in 
     enabling children to grow in an environment free from fear 
     and violence;
       Whereas young people can, by taking responsibility for 
     their own decisions and actions and by positively influencing 
     the decisions and actions of others, help chart a new, less 
     violent course for the entire Nation;
       Whereas students in every school district in the Nation 
     will be invited to take part in a day of nationwide 
     observance involving millions of their fellow students, and 
     will thereby be empowered to see themselves as significant 
     agents in a wave of positive social change; and
       Whereas the observance of October 17, 2001, as a ``Day of 
     National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence'' will 
     allow students to make a positive and earnest decision about 
     their future by having the opportunity to voluntarily sign 
     the ``Student Pledge Against Gun Violence'' and promise that 
     they will never take a gun to school, will never use a gun to 
     settle a dispute, and will actively use their influence in a 
     positive manner to prevent friends from using guns to settle 
     disputes: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates October 17, 2001, as a ``Day of National 
     Concern About Young People and Gun Violence''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the school children of the United States to 
     observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to submit with Senator 
Warner and 27 original cosponsors a resolution that establishes October 
17, 2001, as a ``Day of National Concern About Young People and Gun 
Violence.'' I wish to express my appreciation to Senator Warner in 
joining me again by shepherding this resolution on his side of the 
aisle. I thank him for his assistance and support.
  The need for this resolution could not be more clear. Every year, our 
Nation loses too many young lives to school shootings and other acts of 
gun violence. These tragedies leave lasting scars on families and 
communities. The Senate must actively combat this violence and work to 
address the concerns of families and communities throughout our nation 
who worry about the safety of their children.
  I am introducing this resolution again because I firmly believe that 
we must involve our children and young people in working to end gun 
violence. This resolution establishes a special day that gives young 
people the opportunity to examine how they can help reduce gun violence 
that targets their peers. Additionally, this special day promotes the 
Student Pledge Against Gun Violence, an important avenue

[[Page S9559]]

through which young people can empower themselves and their friends to 
take action against these tragedies.
  The pledge was developed by Mary Lewis Grow, a Minnesota homemaker. 
Students who take the pledge agree to never bring a gun to school, to 
never use a gun to resolve a conflict, and to encourage their friends 
to do the same. Last year, more than 2.4 million students signed the 
pledge. The pledge has received national support from such prominent 
organizations as the National Parent Teacher Association, the National 
School Boards Association, and the American Medical Association. It is 
entirely appropriate that the Senate lend its powerful voice to this 
chorus.
  Just imagine how many young people would still be alive today if 
every student in America had signed, and lived up to, the pledge. 
Imagine how much safer children would feel as they go to school each 
day. Imagine how much happier parents would feel if they knew that 
their children would not be endangered as they tried to learn. It is 
clear that if the Senate's support can convince more young people to 
sign the pledge, and prevent even one more gun from coming to a school, 
then we have taken a step in the right direction.
  The Senate must continue to be active in addressing crime in many 
ways. We must pass strong and effective anticrime legislation that gets 
criminals off the streets. And we should, through supporting 
legislation and by example, help parents spend more time with their 
children and get communities to reach out to those young people who 
have no one to care for them.
  Reducing and ending youth violence will certainly not be easy. But by 
passing this resolution, we take an important step in the right 
direction. Let us join with teachers, administrators, parents, and 
community members around the Nation in working to empower our young 
people. Let us encourage all of our children to be active in reducing 
gun violence. By working together, we can make America safer and can 
secure a better future for all of our Nation's youth.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to once again submit a 
resolution with my colleague from Washington, Senator Murray, to 
establish October 17, 2001, as the Day of National Concern About Young 
People and Gun Violence.
  We all remember the events in Conyers, GA, Littleton, CO, Pearl, MS, 
West Paducah, KY, Jonesboro, AR, and Springfield, OR. Neighborhoods in 
these areas have all been home to horrific school shootings. Youth gun 
violence, however, is not limited to these all too often incidences of 
school shootings. America has lost thousands of children in what has 
become the all-too-common violence of drive-by shootings, drug wars, 
and other crimes, as well as in self-inflicted and unintentional 
shootings.
  While there is no simple solution as to how to stop youth violence, a 
Minnesota homemaker, Mary Lewis Grow, developed the idea of a Day of 
National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence. I believe this 
idea is a step in the right direction, as do such groups as National 
School Boards Association, the National Association of Student 
Councils, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Parent 
Teacher Association, and the American Medical Association.
  Simply put, this resolution will establish October 17, 2001, as the 
Day of National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence. On this 
day, students in every school district in the Nation will be invited to 
voluntarily sign the ``Student Pledge Against Gun Violence.'' By 
signing the pledge, students promise that they will never take a gun to 
school, will never use a gun to settle a dispute, and will use their 
influence in a positive manner to prevent friends from using guns to 
settle disputes.
  The Day of National Concern addresses the necessity of involving 
America's youth in the debate on gun violence against young people. 
While adults may give advice and support, it is America's youth that 
must make the final decision to not use a firearm to resolve conflict.
  Just last year over 2 million young Americans signed the Student 
Pledge Against Gun Violence. Though this resolution is not the ultimate 
solution to preventing future tragedies, if it stops even one incident 
of youth gun violence, this resolution will be invaluable.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join in this resolution to focus 
attention on gun violence among youth.

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