[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
______
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.
____________________