[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE DAILY 45: IT'S THE NATION'S PROBLEM

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2008

  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, 
everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. 
The reflections I continue to share happen in communities big and 
small, everyday, all across our nation. Like Chicago, the city of Los 
Angeles is having its own unprecedented wave of deadly gun violence.
   Earlier this month, during the weekend of June 7 and 8, the Los 
Angeles Times reported that 14 people lost their lives to violence with 
most of those dying at the hands of a gun. That's 14 people who lost 
their lives in one weekend in only 48 hours! Why no national outrage 
over this senseless violence? Even though the headlines read that many 
of these deaths ``appear to be gang-related,'' those who died--
regardless of their age, their economic status or their race--are 
children of God. They had lives that mattered to somebody. They 
certainly mattered to me.
   Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless 
death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say `enough is enough, stop the 
killing!'

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