[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF COLORADO SHOOTINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 14, 2008

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
House Resolution 886 which expresses sympathy to the victims and 
families of the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, CO and 
Arvada, CO.
  The events last year in Colorado Springs, CO and Arvada, CO were 
another sad example of gun violence in this country. The nation is 
still mouming the loss of life at Northem Illinois University, Virginia 
Tech, the mall in St. Lake City, the Red Lake Indian Reservation, and 
in countless other communities. On December 9, 2007, Tiffany Johnson, 
Philip Crouse, Stephanie Works, and Rachel Works were tragically killed 
and David Works, Judy Purcell, Larry Bourbannais, Dan Griebenow, and 
Charlie Blanch injured by bullets fired from an assault rifle and one 
of two handguns wielded by the assailant.
  Expressing sympathy to the victims and families of this tragedy is 
not enough. Far too many people are the victims of gun violence in our 
nation, including the hundreds who are killed and thousands injured in 
unintentional shootings. The Federal Govemment has an obligation and 
moral responsibility to prevent this type of violence, including 
mandatory background checks at gun stores and gun shows and requiring 
safety devices that prevent guns from being used by someone other than 
the owner.
  Congress must reinstate the ban on assault style weapons and broaden 
it to include enhanced restrictions on many different assault-style 
guns that were not previously covered. A new ban should also direct the 
Attomey General to maintain a weapon database system of guns that have 
been used in violent crimes and submit the record to Congress each 
year. This is a necessary public safety measure that will allow law 
enforcement to do their job and combat crime.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the victims 
of gun violence in Colorado Springs, CO and Arvada, CO and working 
together on common-sense gun laws that help to prevent tragedies like 
these from reoccurring.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  April 22, 2008--On Page E680 the following appeared: Madam 
Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the victims of 
gun violence
  
  The online version should be corrected to read: Mr. Speaker, I 
ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the victims of gun 
violence


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