[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2448-H2449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              GUN VIOLENCE

  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, it has been more 
than 20 weeks since the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook school; yet 
Congress has still been unable to pass a comprehensive legislative 
piece to curb gun violence in this country. While an overwhelming 
majority of Americans support expanding background checks, Senate 
Republicans last month blocked an important measure that would have 
expanded background checks to many types of private firearm sales.
  I came here from the mental health field. Every day that the 
Republicans in Congress choose to block critical measures to reduce gun 
violence, we will prevent having a safe community,

[[Page H2449]]

because with the background check, many innocent sick people will be 
stopped. We cannot afford to continue to lose lives and have families 
severely impacted by senseless violence at the hands of criminals with 
deadly firearms.
  Madam Speaker, we owe it to the American people to respond 
immediately to this violence.

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