[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 11, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H5258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MOMENT OF ACTION, NOT MOMENT OF SILENCE

  (Mr. YARMUTH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's deadly shooting at Reynolds 
High School in Oregon was the 74th school shooting in America since the 
gunman murdered 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary 
School on December 14, 2012.
  That is nearly one school shooting per week. More than half have 
occurred at K-12 schools. These shootings are becoming so frequent that 
one company saw a business opportunity and is marketing bulletproof 
blankets to elementary schools.
  The congressional response to the senseless loss of our children, 
educators, friends, and neighbors to gun violence has been silence--
moments of silence on this floor, amplified only by the cowardice from 
those in this body who refuse to stand up for basic public safety.
  Mr. Speaker, 86 Americans lose their lives to guns every day, and 
Americans are 20 times more likely to be murdered by a gun than people 
in the rest of the developed world.
  The American people want us to act. Ninety-two percent support 
expanded background checks to close loopholes in the law and help 
ensure dangerous people can't get guns.
  Mr. Speaker, enough with the moments of silence. It is time for a 
moment of action from Congress to prevent gun violence.

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