[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 20, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              LOOPHOLES IN GUN SAFETY LAWS MUST BE CLOSED

  (Mrs. McCARTHY of New York asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to extend my deepest 
sympathy to the families of the Reverend Larry Penzes and Eileen 
Tosner. Both were fatally shot last week during a 9 a.m. mass at Our 
Lady of Peace Church in Lynbrook, Long Island. My heart is with the 
parishioners, the clergy and staff of Our Lady of Peace who witnessed 
this brutal violence.
  However, what is equally disturbing is that this could have been 
prevented. The assailant had a history of mental health problems. 
However, he was able to purchase a rifle several days before the attack 
because most States do not provide mental health records to FBI NICS 
database.
  According to the General Accounting Office, for every 75,000 people 
who attempt to buy a gun, only one was denied through NICS based on the 
mental health criteria. This is one of the loopholes in our gun safety 
laws that must be closed.
  Gun violence wreaks havoc in our lives in various ways, not the least 
of which is the loss of safe places in our communities. If we are not 
safe in our churches, our schools, our trains, where are we going to be 
safe?
  I urge this body to seriously consider the havoc gun violence creates 
in our society. Better yet, consider its effect on your community. It 
can happen anywhere.

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