[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 3 (Monday, January 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H76-H82]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CBC HOUR: A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barr). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of January 3, 2013, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
General Leave
Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of
this Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Ms. FUDGE. The Congressional Black Caucus, better known as the CBC,
is proud to anchor this hour. My name is Marcia Fudge, and I represent
the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, and I'm currently the chair of
the Congressional Black Caucus. CBC Members stand firm as the voice of
the people and as the conscience of the Congress. We are dedicated to
providing focused services to the citizens who elected us to these
offices.
Tonight, the CBC will focus its attention on the culture of violence.
With no end in sight, the culture of violence continues to permeate and
define our society, Mr. Speaker. We cannot hide from it. It is
everywhere we go.
Merriam-Webster defines an epidemic as ``something affecting or
tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals
within a population, community, or region at the same time.'' It is
clear the culture of violence is an American epidemic. It is time for
us to face the music.
We are complicit in the violence that takes place in our Nation if we
fail to strengthen our gun laws, if we fail to invest more resources
into our mental health services, and address the issue of bullying. We
must take meaningful and immediate action to eradicate the culture of
violence in our country.
Mr. Speaker, this evening I am joined by a number of members of the
Congressional Black Caucus, and I now yield to the gentleman from
Illinois, Mr. Danny Davis.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the
chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus for not only anchoring this
hour, but also providing an opportunity for the rest of us.
I had decided to develop a statement, but then I had 16 young
students visit me this afternoon from Oak Park, Illinois, and they
presented to me their statement. Their statement was so similar to my
statement that I told them that their statement was better than mine
and I would use it. So I'm going to read it as they presented it to me.
They said:
Hello, my name is Joey Cofsky, and my name is Sebastian
Torero, and we are here on behalf of the Religious Action
Center of Reform Judaism to talk about gun violence
prevention. We hope that you will offer support for the Fix
Gun Checks Act when it is introduced.
Unfortunately, it took an inconceivable amount of gun-
related tragedies, and a recent catastrophic elementary
school massacre, to once again raise awareness of the need
for stricter gun laws. Nearly every day, I hear on the news
that a common child has been shot to death in my very own
city. Statistics furthermore illuminate this occurrence as
eight young Americans die each day under the age of 19 from
gun violence. By June of 2012, 228 people were killed in the
city of Chicago. In that same period of time, 144 United
States soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan. Instead of
continuously cringing at these statistics in disbelief every
time we read them, it is time to curb the pattern of violence
that has made the inner-city streets more violent than our
very own battlefields.
Today marks the month anniversary of one of the most
horrific mass shootings in our Nation's history. On this day,
I personally think about the innocent 20 children whose
[[Page H77]]
lives were prematurely taken at a peaceful elementary school.
I wonder about the difference in the world those 20 children
could have made. That day, we all seemed to realize we had
seen this too many times before. Mass shootings grab our
Nation by surprise, and after every one, we feel a sense of
deja vu. At first, people's passion for change is re-ignited,
and the driving force of action is full throttle; but as the
weeks go by, the clamor dies down. The memory of the victims
fades from our consciousness, that is, until another shooting
occurs. I, and the people of this country, have grieved over
too many caskets. It is time to match our words with actions.
In the Talmud, a collection of Jewish laws and lessons, we
are taught that he who takes one life, it is as though he has
destroyed a universe. And he who saves a life, it is as
though he has saved a universe. As a Jew, and as a person,
this quotation resonates strongly with me. It tells me that
it is not only important to save lives in immediate danger,
but to prevent the loss of life in general. It has become
clear to many of us, and for some it has been clear for quite
some time, that an effective way to prevent death in our
country and in essence save a universe is to enact a policy
that would stem the flow of gun violence. Gun violence in our
country takes 12 times the amount of lives that it does in
the other 25 wealthiest nations combined. It is clear that in
our Nation, guns are a major problem.
We are told to save lives, and we can do that. So I would urge every
American to know that lives saved is like saving a universe.
Hello, my name is Joey Cofsky, and my name is Sebastian
Torero and we are here on the behalf of the Religious Action
Center of Reform Judaism to talk about Gun Violence
Prevention. We hope that you will offer support for the Fix
Gun Checks Act when it is introduced.
Unfortunately, it took an inconceivable amount of gun
related tragedies, and a recent catastrophic elementary
school massacre, to once again raise awareness of the need
for stricter gun control laws. Nearly every day, I hear on
the news that a common child has been shot to death in my
very own city. Statistics furthermore illuminate this
occurrence as 8 young Americans die each day under the age of
19 from gun violence. By June of 2012, 228 people were killed
in the city of Chicago. In that same period of time, 144 U.S.
soldiers had been killed in Afghanistan. Instead of
continuously cringing at these statistics in disbelief, every
time we read them, it is time to curb the pattern of the
violence that has made the inner city streets more violent
than our very own battlefields.
Today marks the month anniversary of one of the most
horrific mass shootings in our nation's history. On this day,
I personally think about the innocent 20 children whose lives
were prematurely taken at a peaceful elementary school. I
wonder about the difference in the world those 20 children
could have made. That day, we all seemed to realize we had
seen this too many times before. Mass shootings grab our
nation by surprise, and after every one, we feel a sense of
deja vu. At first, people's passion for change is reignited,
and the driving force of action is full throttle. But as
weeks go by, the clamor dies down. The memory of the victims
fades from our consciousness. That is, until another shooting
occurs. I, and the people of this country, have grieved over
too many caskets. It is time to match our words with actions.
In the Talmud, a collection of Jewish laws and lessons, we
are taught that he who takes one life, it is as though he has
destroyed a universe, and he who saves a life, it is as
though he has saved a universe. As a Jew, and as a person,
this quotation resonates strongly with me. It tells me that
it is not only important to save lives in immediate danger,
but to prevent the loss of life in general. It has become
clear to many of us, and for some, it has been clear for
quite some time, that an effective way to prevent death in
our country, and in essence, save a universe, is to enact
policy that would stem the flow of gun violence. Gun violence
in our country takes 12 times the amount of lives that it
does in the other 25 wealthiest nations combined. It is clear
that, in our nation, guns are a major problem. Jews are told
to save lives, and laws that will prevent gun violence serve
that purpose.
In America, an average of 30,000 lives are lost to gun
violence each year. This, and all we have said before it,
explicitly demonstrates how dangerous guns can be, yet it can
be easier to obtain a gun than it is to vote. 4 out of 10
guns are sold by unlicensed sellers with no background check
conducted. Because of the Gun Show Loophole, anyone can walk
up to a private set at a gun show, purchase a gun, and carry
it out of the event. Domestic violence abusers, convicted
felons, people with mental illnesses, and terrorists can
purchase guns because of this loophole. 30% of illegally
trafficked guns are connected to gun shows. Actions must be
taken to prevent guns from falling into the hands of people
who would not pass a background check, but can obtain a
firearm because of this loophole. The Fix Gun Checks Act
(H.R. 137) would eliminate this loophole by requiring
background checks for any gun sales event that provides a
venue for the sale or transaction of firearms. We thank you
for cosponsoring this bill, and hope you will continue to
support it in the future.
Ms. FUDGE. I thank my friend from Illinois for those words and for
bringing us the words of young people who are affected by this violence
every day.
Mr. Speaker, we are joined by the former chair of the CBC, the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
Ms. LEE. First, let me thank you, Congresswoman Fudge, our new chair
of the Congressional Black Caucus, for bringing us here together
tonight to discuss this important issue. Also, I wanted to say that
Congresswoman Fudge is such a tremendous leader and now, as chair of
the Congressional Black Caucus, has really chartered a very powerful
course for equity, justice, and for nonviolence. So thank you very much
for your leadership.
I can think of no more important subject than the culture of violence
which Congresswoman Fudge has brought us here together to discuss
tonight, and specifically gun violence that has been destroying
communities, taking lives, and injuring too many people for much too
long across America.
{time} 1940
As President Obama so eloquently said the Sunday after the tragedy in
Newtown which shook the conscience of this country, and which we all
still continue to mourn and offer our condolences to the families and
friends and the entire community, We cannot accept this violence, the
President said. This is visited on children year after year, and
somehow is the price of freedom.
We cannot accept this. We cannot accept one more innocent life being
lost to violence, not one in Newtown, not one in Chicago or Cleveland,
not one in Oakland, California, not one in any town, in any city, in
any school, in any theater or in any place of worship, in any mall, or
in any of our neighborhoods.
We have an obligation to our children to ensure that Newtown marks a
turning point that made us finally say enough is enough. We must come
together to build an America where our children do not have to live in
fear and where they do have a future.
Last week I was at an event in my district in west Oakland. It was
the unveiling of a mural painted by several talented young artists.
This Tree of Life mural depicted the hope and the faith that my young
people have for a future without violence. Yet they've seen and
experienced so much gun violence in their communities throughout their
young lives.
Just over the weekend, 11 people were tragically shot in my
congressional district. Too many of my constituents have been affected
by gun violence, have pleaded for help in protecting their children
from the horrors of gun violence, only to see the status quo continue
at the Federal level.
Mr. Speaker, we need to take some serious action that includes
commonsense measures such as Federal gun buyback programs, banning
high-capacity magazines, expanding the 24-hour gun background check,
closing the gun show loophole, and re-instituting the assault weapon
ban. We need to do this immediately.
But we also need to work to end domestic violence in our homes and
reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. For whatever reason,
unfortunately, it got stuck last Congress. We need to do this right
away.
We also must seek input from our young people, community
stakeholders, faith communities and others. We can work together to
identify the root causes of this Nation's more than 16,000 homicides a
year.
Let me call to your attention the work of a magnificent community-
based organization in my district that I actually am very proud of that
I helped found in the early nineties called the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Freedom Center. These young people continue to work on conflict
resolution and violence prevention efforts day and night, but they
constantly tell us that their work is thwarted due to too many guns in
the streets.
Finally, we must recognize gun violence as a critical public health
crisis and continue to support comprehensive violence prevention plans.
This week, Congresswoman DeLauro and myself, we're offering an
amendment that would end a prohibition, mind you--and Congresswoman
Fudge, this is mind-boggling when you see
[[Page H78]]
that we have a prohibition at the Department of Health and Human
Services that would not allow us to analyze gun violence in terms of
public health. We have a prohibition against that. So we're trying to
offer an amendment that would take away this prohibition.
As a psychiatric social worker by profession and someone who founded
a community mental health center when the psychiatric facilities began
to shut down in California, I understand firsthand why we need to help
people struggling with mental illness, give them the treatment they
need, and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
So I'm going to introduce, once again, my bill to add mental health
counselors to our schools, which will help children and families
struggling with emotional issues who could actually be on the brink;
but if we had mental health counselors there, they could really help
steer them away from whatever tragedy that could occur.
So we can't allow the status quo to continue, to allow our children
and grandchildren to grow up in this culture of violence, in a world
where violence threatens our schools, our homes, and our communities.
Let me thank again Congresswoman Fudge for gathering us here tonight
to discuss this very important issue. I just want to remind us that
next Monday we will once again celebrate the birthday of our great drum
major for justice, the prince of peace, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We must rededicate our lives and our work to the principles of
nonviolence, which are more important now more than ever. Dr. King
reminded us that violence should never be an option if we really want a
world worthy of our children and grandchildren.
Yes, as a major part of this, it does mean getting guns off the
streets and working for a culture of peace and security.
Thank you again.
Ms. FUDGE. I thank you so much.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from California because, as she
was the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, it was she who gave me
the opportunity to anchor this hour for my first 2 years as a freshman
in this caucus, so I thank you.
My friend from Texas, Congressman Al Green, it is a pleasure to have
you with us this evening.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I thank the
Speaker for the time.
I congratulate you, Madam Chair, on being the newly elected
chairperson of the CBC, and I pledge to work with you to do all that I
can to assist you, not only with the many programs that we have, but
also with ending this culture of violence.
Madam Chair, on this, the eve of the birthday of Dr. King, it is
appropriate to quote him. He reminded us that the truest measure of the
person is not where you stand in times of comfort and convenience, when
all is right with the world, your health is good, your bills are paid,
friends are all around. The truest measure of the person is where do
you stand in times of challenge and controversy.
Challenge and controversy, when young people are dying in the street,
when domestic violence is claiming the lives of spouses and paramours
and lovers and friends, when churches are being shot up, where do you
stand?
Let's talk for just a moment about some of these circumstances. I
attended a funeral just recently. It was the funeral of Ms. Latasha
Jones. Ms. Jones was killed on Christmas Eve, December 2012. She lost
her life in the presence of her son. Her daughter lost her life as
well, victim of domestic violence.
It's one thing to know and use the term ``victim,'' another thing to
attend the funeral of a victim. It was a sad occasion. Mother and
daughter, son there to only suffer heartache knowing that he will never
see his mother or his sister again.
I have the program from that funeral, and I have the obituary. I
shall place this in the Record.
Latasha R. Jones
October 14, 1977-December 24, 2012
On October 14, 1977 in Houston, Texas, a baby girl was born
to Clarence M. Jones and Patricia Jones. They named her
Latasha Rochelle Jones. Latasha confessed to Christ at an
early age at South Park Baptist Church, in Houston, Texas.
She attended Houston area public schools and graduated from
North Shore High School in 1997, in Houston, Texas.
On September 27, 1994, she had her first daughter:
Chamarea' Schane' Hoskin. On February 8, 1999, she gave birth
to her second daughter: JaKaela Neshae Newhouse. On May 24,
2005, she gave birth to her first son: Chance Javion-Lee
Adams. Latasha was a kind-hearted, loving caregiver. She
pursued her dream of caring for children while she was
employed with many different daycare facilities. While
employed at KinderCare, she was a Senior Quest Teacher. She
truly had a passion for educating and nurturing children.
Latasha also traveled down other avenues of care-giving by
completing her education and dream of becoming a Certified
Medical Assistant at PCI (Professional Careers Institute).
Latasha completed the course and graduated on June 20, 2012.
While attending PCI. Latasha was employed with Home Depot,
where she worked very hard to provide for her family.
Latasha was preceded in death by her father, Clarence M.
Jones, her grandmother Shirley McDonald, three cousins:
Cheryl L. McDonald, Jermaine McDonald and Byron J. Scranton,
her step-brother: Clarence Owens.
Her loving memory will linger on in the hearts of her
Mother and Pow-Pow: Patricia A. Wilson and Earnest ``Lee''
Wilson, Sr.; her daughter: Chamarea' Hoskin, her son: Chance
J.L. Adams; her sisters: Candi Jones, Alicia Jarmon (Jai
Francis, Sr.), Rashaunda Jarmon; step-sister: Wendy W. Thomas
(Randy) and Desiree Jarmon; step-brothers: Ernest L. Wilson,
Jr. and Marcus Vivian; her nieces: Jailicia Martinez (Robert
M.), Morgan Francis, Jordyn Lassaint, Avry Francis and Zoey
Sarumi; her nephews: Jai Francis, Jr., Tristen Francis,
Randall Thomas, Caden Francis, Seven Francis, Shia Francis
and Tru Irven, a host of loving Aunts, Uncles, cousins her
God-Mother Emori Davis, and a host of other loving relatives
and friends.
May Latasha R.I.P. with her daughter, JaKaela.
____
JaKaela N. Newhouse
February 8, 1977-December 24, 2012
On February 8, 1999 in Houston, Texas, a baby girl was born
to Herman Newhouse, Jr. and Latasha Jones. They named her
JaKaela Neshae Newhouse. She attended Houston area public
schools and was currently an 8th grade student at Killough
Middle School, in Houston, Texas. She has two older sisters:
Janesha McCartaney, who was born on July 19, 1991 and
Chamarea' Schane' Hoskin, who was born on September 27, 1994.
She became the proud big-sister to her younger brothers,
Zaquarius Newhouse, who was born on December 12, 2003 and
Chance Javion-Lee Adams, who was born on May 24, 2005.
JaKaela was a loving, curious and happy teenager. She was a
very ``studious student'' who took pride in her schoolwork.
Her favorite pastime was to Sci-Fi books. She loved her
family and her best friend Shakira Romero.
JaKaela was preceded in death by her father Herman
Newhouse, Jr., her grandfather Clarence M. Jones, her great-
grandmother Shirley McDonald, three great-cousins: Cheryl L.
McDonald, Jermaine McDonald and Byron J. Scranton, her uncle:
Clarence Owens. Her loving memory will linger on in the
hearts of her Grandmother and Pow-Pow: Patricia A. and
Earnest ``Lee'' Wilson, Sr. and her paternal grandparents
Herman and Norma Newhouse; her Step-Mother, Vondalin Johnson;
her sisters: Janesha McCartaney and Chamarea' Hoskin, her
Step-Sister, Quawntina Johnson; her brothers: Zaquarius
Newhouse and Chance J.L. Adams; her Step-brother, Quiwnton
Johnson; her aunts: Candi Jones, LaTricia Newhouse, Alicia
Jarmon (Jai Francis, Sr.), Rashaunda Jarmon, Wendy W. Thomas
(Randy) and Desiree Jarmon; her uncle: Ernest L. Wilson, Jr.
and Marcus Vivian; her cousins: Jailicia Martinez (Robert
M.), Morgan Francis, Jordyn Lassaint, Avry Francis, Zoey
Sarumi, Jai Francis, Jr., Tristen Francis, Randall Thomas,
Caden Francis, Seven Francis, Shia Francis and Tru Irven, a
host of loving Great-Aunts, Great-Uncles, and a host of other
loving relatives and friends.
May JaKaela R.I.P. in the arms of her mother, Latasha.
Gang violence. In my district, Robert Baptiste was a victim of gang
violence, and on August 2012, at his funeral, there was a shootout at
the church.
Where do you stand when you have gang violence and domestic violence?
Joshua Woods, 22 years of age, went out to buy a new pair of
sneakers, December 2012. On the way home, accosted, lost his life,
shot--died over sneakers.
I had the opportunity to speak to his mother just recently. It was a
heartbreaking conversation for a mother to explain how her son worked
hard, and this was something that he had worked hard for. He was a good
kid. His mother loved him.
When the natural order of things is circumvented, it's very difficult
to reconcile.
And then I would call to your attention Ryan Spikes, killed in a
drive-by shooting at a spring break party. Indiscriminate violence.
Where do we stand is the question that Dr. King would put to us.
[[Page H79]]
{time} 1950
But he would also remind us that we must learn to live together as
brothers and sisters or we will perish together as fools. And the
notion of a gun for a gun is not the solution. We've tried eye for an
eye, tooth for a tooth. That only leaves us blind and toothless. Guns
will lead to shoot-outs.
This is not the solution. We must do more, not only to rid society of
these weapons of war, but also to help our children learn that they can
live together as brothers and sisters. There is but one race, and
that's the human race. We were all created by God to live in harmony,
and we must teach our children that they should respect each other and
live together with each other.
This is not an easy task. There will be no silver bullet, there will
be no easy solution, but we have to do all that we can. When you can't
do enough, you have a duty to do all that you can.
I pledge to do all that I can to work with you, Madam Chair, to make
sure that we end domestic violence, gang violence, indiscriminate
violence, and that we don't resort to a gun for a gun, which is a
nouveau version of an eye for an eye.
I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
Ms. FUDGE. I thank my friend. Thank you so very much.
I now yield to the vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and
my good friend from New York, Representative Yvette Clarke.
Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairwoman of the
Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlelady from Ohio (Ms. Fudge), for
summoning us to be a part of this Special Order this evening. It is
quite timely as we mark the 1-month anniversary of the slaughter of the
innocents in Newtown, Connecticut, as we all reflect on the many
challenges that we face within our own neighborhoods, our own
communities, of longstanding reckless gun violence.
Mr. Speaker, just last week a 90-year-old woman by the name of Gloria
Johnson, 90 years old, was shot twice as she walked to the laundromat
in East New York, Brooklyn. She lived 90 years to be gunned down in
Brooklyn, New York.
Two weeks ago, AK-47 shells were found in Queens, New York, at the
scene of the murder of a 17-year-old child--AK-47. You find those types
of shells in Iraq, in Afghanistan, not in Queens, New York. But there's
a new reality that we are all facing, and that is assault weapons in an
urban environment.
And this summer a young 13-year-old boy named Ronald Wallace III was
shot in the back by a barrage of gunfire in the streets of Brownsville,
Brooklyn, within my own district.
Although New York City has some of the strictest gun laws in the
Nation, senseless crimes like these occur all too frequently in my
district and across New York City and in other urban communities across
the United States.
In 2012, the New York City Police Department reported 226 incidents
of handgun violence in Brooklyn, New York, alone.
Illegal gun trafficking and gaping holes in Federal background check
requirements are to blame for many of these incidents. Eighty-five
percent of the guns used in crimes in New York City are first purchased
in States like Virginia and Georgia that do not extend the background
check to purchase limitation requirements for private sellers.
Mr. Speaker, I stand with my fellow lawmakers in Congress, with Mayor
Michael Bloomberg and with Governor Cuomo, in demanding Federal
legislation that specifically addresses illegal trafficking of guns
across State lines and the requirement of background checks in all gun
purchase transactions.
To truly put an end to the random gun violence that plagues New York
City and other urban areas, however, we must also address other policy
areas that have profound effects on the level of gun violence that we
see.
Yes, I agree that mental health and mental illness are important
factors that have to be explored and addressed when trying to mitigate
against gun violence; however, there's some additional factors that
contribute to what has become tantamount to a public health crisis. One
such factor is poor educational outcomes.
According to the American Economic Review, a 1-year increase in the
average years of education completed reduces violent crime by nearly 30
percent. In fact, between 2000 and 2005, New York State increased its
higher education expenditures by roughly 40 percent. During the same
period, the State violent crime rate decreased by roughly 20 percent.
These statistics are an indication that there is a direct correlation
between investment in education and the reduction of violent crime,
specifically gun crime.
It is my hope that any legislative measure brought to the floor for
consideration also takes into account true and real investment in the
inadequate or ineffectual educational systems across this Nation. By
bolstering our educational institutions, we help set our children on a
path to success instead of one that leads to violent crime, death, and
incarceration.
Gun violence is not an inevitable part of life, yet it continues to
plague our communities. We are not helpless in this endeavor. We owe it
to our constituents, to our Nation, and to future generations to act
with urgency and conviction to put an end to the senseless pattern of
gun violence, not only in suburban America, but in every community
across this Nation, urban America as well.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, I look forward to working with you in
whatever capacity necessary to save another family from the hurt, the
harm, and the trauma of the senseless acts of violence that take place
in our communities across this Nation due to illegal handguns and gun
trafficking.
With that, Madam Chair, I thank you for yielding.
Ms. FUDGE. I thank the gentlelady from New York.
Mr. Speaker, I want you to know that the gentlelady from New York has
been a strong and steady voice in our caucus, and I so much appreciate
it.
Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my colleague from Ohio, who I'm so
pleased has joined this House, the Honorable Joyce Beatty.
Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to take my first opportunity to address my
colleagues from the House floor, to participate in a discussion on an
issue that I find very troubling, at a crisis point for our Nation.
But first let me thank our chairwoman, Marcia Fudge, for her
outstanding leadership and for organizing the Special Order hour to
address the issue of the senseless violence facing our Nation.
Our country, more than ever, is facing a culture of violence.
Unfortunately, we are now living in a society where mass killings have
gone from being an extremely rare occurrence to a common occurrence.
According to Harvard Health Policy Review, each year approximately
30,000 people in the United States die as a result of gunfire, and
about 80,000 people are wounded. We are faced with living in a culture
where, now, more than 6.6 million violent crimes--murder, rape,
assault, and robbery--are committed each year.
{time} 2000
We are living in a culture of violence where our children see 8,000
murders and 100,000 other acts of violence in media and in their
communities at a very early age. Colleagues, these statistics are too
many, and it is time for action now. This problem must be fixed. We
must remember, when we talk about rights, children have a right to be
safe.
So I applaud President Obama and Vice President Biden for proactively
taking the necessary steps to address this critical issue. It's going
to take all of us united, regardless of party affiliation or our
differing views on constitutional rights, to stem this tide of
violence.
More importantly, we must take a hard look at funding for mental
health services and other services; we must look at synching technology
to ensure proper and tighter access to firearms; we must place adequate
controls on ammunition.
Bottom line: We must protect our schools, our communities. Children
and families must be safe.
I respectfully ask my colleagues to make this issue of violence a
priority
[[Page H80]]
and to support our Nation's leadership as they work through resolving
this challenge, which should not be difficult if we compromise and keep
focusing on saving lives.
Madam Chair, I pledge to support you and to support all my other
colleagues with the Congressional Black Caucus to make a difficult task
safe and to protect the lives of our children and families from gunfire
and a culture of violence.
I thank you for my time.
Ms. FUDGE. I so much thank the gentlelady from Ohio for
participating. We certainly know how difficult this is going to be as
we move forward, but I am pleased. Thank you very much.
I now yield to the gentleman from New Jersey, who has joined our
caucus and we are so pleased to have him, the Honorable Representative
Donald Payne, Jr.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me first begin by thanking my good friend
and colleague, my chairwoman, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge from the State
of Ohio, for anchoring this evening's Special Order on the culture of
violence.
Coming together to address gun violence and bullying in America is
long overdue. There must be something extraordinary done to truly curb
these atrocities from occurring in our communities. Too many innocent
men, women, and children have died because of the ease of access to
illegal firearms. Fifteen of the 25 worst mass shootings in our history
have occurred in America in the last 50 years.
Harvard Injury Control Research Center studies indicate that in
homes, cities, States, and regions in the U.S. where there are guns,
both men and women are at a higher risk for homicide, particularly from
firearms. These statistics are tragic. We must do something, and we
must do something now.
On the issue of bullying, bullying is also a major concern in our
Nation. Who will be able to tell what will become of the next
generation if statistics continue to rise with each national report on
bullying? I'm very sensitive to this issue because I have three young
children at home, and I perish the thought that they would be subjected
to such actions.
We are losing our next generation of poets, musicians, doctors,
lawyers, scientists, and athletes to senseless gun violence and
aggressive bullying. One out of every four teenagers is bullied and,
furthermore, deterred from their academic potential. 282,000 students
are physically bullied in secondary schools each month. One out of 10
children drop out of school because of bullying.
We must take measures to protect our Nation's future generations.
From the mass murder at the movie theater in Colorado, to Sandy Hook
Elementary School in Connecticut, to the schoolyard killings at Mount
Vernon Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey--four youngsters with
their whole futures ahead of them were violently murdered by a gang
behind a school--I have seen what damage guns can do in the wrong
hands. Let us be steadfast in making sure that events like these never
happen again.
Gun violence and bullying in America are not just problems, they are
national health issues.
What are the solutions? Well, Federal action is yielding some
progress. The Brady law of 1994 has blocked the sale of firearms to
over 1.6 million felons, fugitives, and other individuals. Still, more
is needed. Proactive approaches include renewing the assault weapons
ban, closing the gun show loophole, mandating installation of trigger
locks, and eliminating influxes of cheaply made weapons. This does not
infringe on anyone's right to bear arms in this Nation, but we have to
do things that make common sense.
There are guns that have been outlawed in this Nation's history. You
cannot get a submachine gun. You cannot get a sawed-off shotgun. Why
shouldn't assault weapons be added to that group?
Also, gun buyback programs in my district and my State have removed
hundreds of guns from the streets, and I am considering offering
legislation to bring these programs to scale on the Federal level to
help stem the tide of violence. These measures would undoubtedly save
lives.
Enough is enough. It is time to take action.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
Ms. FUDGE. Thank you so much. I thank the gentleman. I certainly am
pleased to know how supportive you are of efforts to make this a safer
country for our young people.
Mr. Speaker, each year, in its Uniform Crime Report, the FBI compiles
a list of the cities with the most murders per capita. According to the
most recent report, which uses data from 2011, there were over 3,300
murders that occurred in just 15 cities. There were 515 murders in New
York City in 2011; 431 in Chicago, Illinois; 344 in Detroit, Michigan;
324 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 297 in Los Angeles, California; 200
in New Orleans, Louisiana; 198 in Houston, Texas; 196 in Baltimore,
Maryland; 133 in Dallas, Texas; 117 in Memphis, Tennessee; 116 in
Phoenix, Arizona; 113 in St. Louis, Missouri; 108 in Washington, D.C.;
108 in Kansas City, Missouri; and 104 in Oakland, California.
Now, some people may think that violence is only prevalent in urban
America, but that is just not true. Recent mass murders have occurred
in places like Tucson, Arizona; Aurora, Colorado; Oak Creek, Wisconsin;
and Newtown, Connecticut. Violence is truly all around us. It is at our
movie theaters, our shopping centers, colleges, places of worship, and
even our elementary schools.
During the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, a
gunman took the lives of 26 people, including 20 children as young as
the age of 5. The victims of this heinous crime were killed at a place
that we all consider to be safe.
Since 1982, there have been more than 60 mass murders carried out
with firearms across this country. We have had 19 mass shootings in the
last 5 years alone. That is a rate of more than one every 4 months. The
uptick in these types of crimes should be enough to push our Nation
forward on reassessing our gun laws. Unfortunately, our country appears
to be at a standstill. Each year, 30,000 Americans lose their lives as
a result of gunfire, and about 80,000 Americans were wounded in that
same period of time.
{time} 2010
The number of gun crimes continues to be high; and yet, we, as a
Nation, are hesitant to take immediate action to address this issue.
Thirty-three Americans are murdered with guns every single day. Our
Nation has the distinction of having the highest rate of firearm
violence in the world.
Proponents of gun rights say that there is an absolute right to bear
arms. Mr. Speaker, I disagree. All rights are subject to reasonable
restrictions. One can support the Second Amendment while also
advocating for policies that keep guns out of the hands of criminals
and other dangerous people. We must act immediately on creating a
comprehensive, national gun policy that eliminates loopholes in the
laws, bans assault weapons, and places limits on high-capacity
magazines.
Under current Federal law, background checks are only required for
gun sales at licensed dealers. According to Mayors Against Illegal
Guns, approximately 6.6 million guns are sold each year in America by
unlicensed private sellers. That translates to 40 percent of all U.S.
gun sales. These transactions typically occur online or at gun shows
without the buyer having to pass a background check.
Federal law carves out a broad exception for private gun sellers who
only make what are called ``occasional sales'' or who sell from a
``personal collection.'' What is problematic about this is that there's
no set standard for what is considered an ``occasional'' sale.
In a national survey of inmates--listen to this--in a national survey
of inmates conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, it was found
that nearly 80 percent of those who used a handgun in a crime acquired
it in a private transfer. In another troubling statistic, a 2009 New
York City undercover investigation at seven gun shows in three States
found that 63 percent of private sellers at those shows were willing to
sell to someone who admitted that he couldn't pass a background check.
The private-sale loophole has made it far too easy for criminals to
exploit the system to obtain guns. For example, in October 2012,
Radcliffe Haughton was able to purchase a gun from a private
[[Page H81]]
seller even though he was federally prohibited from doing so. His wife
had initiated a restraining order against him. He used the gun that he
purchased online to go to a spa where his wife worked. He killed her
and two other people and injured four other people before killing
himself.
Requiring uniform, criminal background checks for every gun sale is
something that has garnered broad support. A 2012 survey by Republican
pollster Frank Luntz revealed that 82 percent of gun owners, including
74 percent of National Rifle Association members, support requiring
criminal background checks for potential gun owners. This is a prime
example of a sensible gun regulation that should be implemented now.
Failing to fully enforce current laws can be just as bad as not
having any laws at all, Mr. Speaker. Since its creation in 1999, the
National Instant Criminal Background Check System, better known as
NICS, has prevented more than 1.7 million permit applications and gun
sales to felons. The seriously mentally ill and drug abusers have also
been stopped in some instances. But despite its success, NICS has a
number of gaps and limitations that still enable firearms to be sold to
dangerous people. Many prohibited purchasers are able to get their
hands on guns because NICS is missing millions of relevant records due
to lax reporting by State and Federal agencies.
Twenty-three States and the District of Columbia have submitted fewer
than 100 mental health records to NICS--100. Seventeen States have
submitted fewer than 10 mental health records, and four States have not
submitted any mental health records at all. State substance abuse
records have always been significantly underreported. Forty-four States
have submitted fewer than 10 records to the Federal database, and 33
States have not submitted any records at all.
Federal agencies have also dragged their feet in fulfilling their
reporting responsibilities. Despite being required to do so, many
Federal agencies have shared very few mental health records. Only nine
of the 60 Federal agencies listed in relevant FBI data have submitted
any mental health records.
Incomplete records have allowed dangerous killers to purchase guns.
In 2007, Seung Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech
before taking his own life. Cho had been found mentally ill by a judge;
and, as a result, he should have been prohibited from buying a gun. He
was able to slip through the cracks and pass a background check at a
licensed gun dealer because his mental health records were never
submitted to NICS. It is clear that our background check system is
broken and needs to be fixed.
The prevalence of assault weapons is another issue that raises great
concern for me. These military-style weapons with high-capacity
magazines tend to be the weapon of choice in mass shootings and police
murders. Those kinds of weapons have been used to inflict the greatest
amount of pain in the shortest amount of time.
In a study of high-profile shootings over the past 4 years, Mayors
Against Illegal Guns has found that at least one-third of those
shootings involved assault weapons and/or high-capacity magazines.
They were used in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012, to kill
26 people; in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on August 5 to kill six people and
wound three others; in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2012, to kill 12
people and injure 58 others; in Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2011, to
kill six people and wound 13 others; in Fort Hood, Texas, on November
5, 2009, to kill 13 people and wound 34 others; and in Binghamton, New
York, on April 3, 2009, to kill 13 people and injure four others.
Assault weapons are also a threat to our local law enforcement. On
June 8, 2009, in Chesapeake, Virginia, a gunman shot two police
officers with a semiautomatic AK-47 assault weapon, firing at least 30
rounds.
In St. Louis, Missouri, on January 7, 2010, Timothy Hendron entered
the ABB, Inc. factory with two handguns, a shotgun, and a semiautomatic
AK-47 rifle with high-capacity ammunition magazines. He fired
approximately 115 rounds, killing three and wounding five before taking
his own life. After the shooting, the police chief of St. Louis, Daniel
Isom, said:
Our officers didn't have sufficient weapons systems to
engage a person with an AK-47.
On January 26, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a police officer was
ambushed by a teenager who fired a semiautomatic weapon 26 times.
Responding to the crime, Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty stated:
There are just more and more assault rifles out there, and
it is becoming a bigger threat to law enforcement each day.
They are outgunned.
Reinstating the assault weapon ban must be a priority for our Nation.
It is estimated that there are nearly 18 million assault weapons in
circulation in the United States. A 2010 survey by the Police Executive
Research Forum revealed that there has been an increase in criminal use
of assault weapons since the Federal ban expired in 2004. Thirty-seven
percent of police agencies have reported noticeable increases.
Weapons with the ability to carry out such deadly force do not belong
on our streets, Mr. Speaker. There is no justification for the use of
these weapons anywhere but on the battlefield for which they were
designed. I firmly support banning assault weapons of all types.
A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines has been
endorsed by several organizations, including Mayors Against Illegal
Guns, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities
Chiefs Association, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement
Executives, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Police Foundation,
and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement
Administrators.
{time} 2020
The culture of violence doesn't necessarily start with guns. It can
often be traced back to mental health concerns and bullying.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration's 2009 national survey on drug use and health, there
were an estimated 45.1 million U.S. adults living with a mental
illness. That is 20 percent of all American adults. Sadly, only 17
million of these adults received services to address their illness. A
significant number of the country's inmates also have mental health
problems. According to the Department of Justice's 2004 survey of
inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities and its 2002
surveys in local jails, nearly 45 percent of all inmates in Federal
prison have a mental health problem; over 55 percent of the inmates in
State prison have a mental health problem; and nearly 65 percent of
inmates in local jails have a mental problem.
We cannot continue to ignore the fact that we need to do more to
address the issue of mental health. Turning our back on this problem
will not make it go away.
The issue of bullying has become rampant in our society. Too many of
our children are being bullied during and after school and on the
Internet. According to Stomp Out Bullying, it is estimated that one out
of four teens is bullied during their lifetime. Fifty-eight percent of
kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More
than 40 percent say it has happened to them more than once. Fifty-three
percent of kids admit having said something mean or hurtful to another
person online, and more than one in three has done it more than once.
Fifty-eight percent have not told their parents or an adult about
something mean or hurtful that happened to them online.
Many believe that bullying is a right of passage. I'm here to tell
you that it is not. Bullying is intentional, it is cruel, and abusive.
It can set the tone for a lifetime of hurt. Many people are never the
same after being bullied. Depression, anxiety, and many other
psychological problems can result from bullying. Some turn to substance
abuse, even suicide.
Bullying is no joking matter. It is not something to be taken
lightly. We must inform our children of the consequences of bullying.
We must be attentive and listen to their cries for help. How many of
our children need to fall victim to this cruel behavior before we are
moved to act? We must address this issue now.
[[Page H82]]
Mr. Speaker, as I close, it is very clear that we live in a culture
of violence. The culture of violence has ravaged our communities,
taking the lives of innocent Americans, ripping apart American
families, and destroying families along the way. We must act now
because our Nation is depending on us. Anyone who believes that it is
okay to use a gun in an open theater is not really thinking very
rationally. Someone who believes that you can put a police officer at
every single entrance into a school is really not thinking very
rationally.
We have to do something. No matter what our personal beliefs are, we
are all here to work for the American public, not ourselves. We may
have a personal opinion as to what should be done about guns, but the
people of America are speaking, and we need to listen to them.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to
express my serious concerns about the recent acts of violence
throughout the United States. The tragedy that struck the Sandy Hook
Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, last month was a devastating
loss for the families and friends of the students and educators who
were killed. As the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history,
the Newtown tragedy has underscored the fundamental need to reevaluate
our approach to gun violence and mental illness.
Any strategy to reduce gun violence must be inclusive in its approach
to finding a solution. Every viable consideration must be on the table
as we look to enact comprehensive legislation at the federal level.
With the total number of privately owned firearms in circulation
estimated to be more than 270 million, we must take reasonable steps to
ensure that these firearms do not fall into the wrong hands, while also
protecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners.
The topic of mental illness is one that is neglected, particularly in
regard to its connection to gun violence. In 2009, approximately 11
million adults in the United States had a serious mental illness. Forty
percent of those adults did not receive any type of treatment for that
illness. We now know that each of the shooters in the most recent
incidents suffered from mental illness. Addressing mental illness can
be a critical component of a comprehensive approach to reducing
violence in our schools and other public places.
Mr. Speaker, we must take deliberate steps going forward to prevent
another tragedy from occurring. There is absolutely no place for
violence in our schools, and we are compelled to do everything within
our power to avert future catastrophe. There is a large mental health
component to this debate that needs greater consideration, and I hope
that my colleagues will continue to take a holistic approach during
this process.
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