[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 98 (Thursday, July 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PEOPLE PEDALING PEACE

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, last month more than 25 cyclists made the 
190-mile trip from Hampton, VA, to Washington, DC, to honor and 
remember victims of gun violence. According to the Brady Campaign to 
Prevent Gun Violence, the People Pedaling Peace cyclists rode not only 
in honor of the victims of gun violence, but they rode for stronger, 
more sensible gun safety laws in America.
  Sandra and Mike McSweeney started People Pedaling Peace last year 
after their daughter, Stephanie, was killed while walking out of a 
roller rink in Hampton, VA. Money raised by this year's bike ride will 
be used to build a new playground in Stephanie's neighborhood so 
children can have a safe place to play. Elisha Encinias, a Columbine 
survivor who narrowly escaped the two gunmen in her classroom that 
tragic day in 1999, and Amber Hensley, who witnessed the 1999 rampage 
at Thurston High School in Springfield, OR, also joined in this year's 
bike trip. Unfortunately, the number of people like them is likely to 
grow. They represent only a small number of Americans who have lost 
family and friends to gun violence.
  According to the Detroit Free Press, through July 14th of this year, 
10 children under the age of 16 have been killed by gun fire and 25 
children have been wounded by gunfire in metro Detroit. This past 
Sunday, a 3-year-old boy found a shotgun, picked it up, and it 
discharged. He wounded two other children, his 11-year-old sister and 
9-year-old cousin. A week ago on Detroit's east side, an 11-year-old 
boy was accidentally shot in the chest by his 13-year-old neighbor 
after they found a handgun. Last month, a 14-year-old boy shot a 13-
year-old girl while the two were arguing in a Detroit home. Thankfully, 
they all survived, but many have not. The need for sensible gun safety 
legislation and vigorous enforcement of our gun laws is desperately 
needed.
  I know my colleagues will join me in recognizing the participants in 
the People Pedaling Peace bike ride and expressing our thoughts and 
prayers to family, friends, and communities across America that have 
been affected by gun violence. And I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting sensible gun safety legislation.

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