[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE BLAIR HOLT FIREARM LICENSING AND RECORD OF SALE ACT 
                                OF 2007

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 11, 2007

  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the Blair Holt Firearm 
Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2007.
  I introduce this bill in tribute to a brave young hero, Blair Holt, 
who sacrificed his life in an attempt to protect the life of a friend. 
Blair was fatally shot and killed by a young man possessing a deadly 
firearm and a reckless disregard for human life.
  Madam Speaker, the proliferation of guns in our community impacts us 
all. My son lost his life back in 1999 due to senseless gun violence 
and my nephew sits in jail today, convicted of fatally shooting 
someone.
  I am sick and tired of shooting and the loss of innocent lives over 
and over again in our neighborhoods.
  In Chicago, since the beginning of this school year alone, over 31 
children have lost their life by violence, and the great majority were 
killed with guns.
  This bill will assist law enforcement in tracking the flow of guns 
and require those who possess guns to be trained in gun safety, 
handling, and storage.
  The purpose of this bill is to restrict the availability of firearms 
to criminals, youth, and gang members, and to protect the public 
against the unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with the 
unrecorded sale and transfer of guns.
  I know that the powerful gun lobby will attack this bill for 
restricting the availability of guns, but all of us who live in the 
inner cities where our children and family members are losing their 
lives on a weekly or daily basis understand the need to implement a 
common sense federal law that will inform law enforcement of where the 
guns are and who is possessing them.
  This bill will implement the same type of system that we have in 
place for licensing drivers and registering cars. No sensible 
individual can argue with the fact that with over 200 million guns in 
the United States, we need a uniform system to keep track of these 
weapons. Mayors and law enforcement officials across the country have 
been calling for this type of legislation for years and I hope that we 
will be successful in making Blair's Bill federal law.
  Madam Speaker, the future of our children, our families, and our 
communities is at stake. I encourage my colleagues to join my efforts 
to increase accountability in our firearm policy and support H.R. 
2666--the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2007.

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