[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 51 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE WOMEN LEADERS OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2015

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's 
History Month, I would like to take a moment to honor a few women from 
New York who were trailblazers of the gun violence prevention movement.
   Barbara Hohlt, Tina Johnstone, Ellen Freudenheim, and Robyn Ringler 
are founders of and volunteers with New Yorkers Against Gun Violence 
who worked tirelessly to pass the original Brady Bill in 1993, which 
strengthened federal background checks on firearms purchasers. These 
women, along with my constituent Donna Dees-Thomases, and countless 
others went on to organize the historic ``Million Mom March'' which 
will celebrate its 15 year milestone this year on Mother's Day.
   These volunteers and activists are the backbone of the movement for 
sensible gun laws and safer communities. With the leadership of these 
courageous women and others like them, New York has taken important 
steps to improve our gun safety laws, including requiring background 
checks on all gun sales. It is critical that Congress follow through on 
sensible reforms to close existing loopholes, prevent accidental 
handgun deaths, and provide law enforcement with the necessary 
resources to keep dangerous firearms out of the wrong hands.
   In keeping with the theme of this Women's History Month: ``Weaving 
the Stories of Women's Lives,'' I would like to enter into the 
Congressional Record the testimony of one mother in particular, Karin 
Wilson. She was a talented Brooklyn artist who in 2005 delivered these 
words before the United Nations. If you take the time to read her 
words, you'll understand the toll of gun violence on our society and 
the need for bold action in Congress.

                 No Child's Life Should End With a Bang


Karin Wilson, Million Mom March, Brooklyn Address to the United Nations 
                               July 2005

       I lost my beloved son, my only child Christian on December 
     3, 1999. Just 28 days after he turned 19, he was a man-child, 
     not quite an adult but past adolescence. The millennium came 
     in a way I could have never imagined. The pain is 
     indescribable; the magnitude of my loss makes me 
     inconsolable. I've been wronged and robbed! I'm from the 
     United States, I live in the state of New York, born and 
     raised in the Borough of Brooklyn, which is just across the 
     river from here. The U.S. is one of the most powerful and 
     technologically advanced countries on this planet. We haven't 
     fought a war in this country since the American Civil War, a 
     war that was fought from 1861-1865.
        Yet in my neighborhood and in many others in this country 
     we hear gun shots at night. Parents start doing silent 
     headcounts of their children after hearing the sounds of gun 
     shots. We have neighbors, friends and family members who were 
     killed or maimed with a firearm. Because of my son's death I 
     became part of the largest grassroots anti-gun violence 
     movement in the United States.
        Let me tell you how my life has changed. I won't have the 
     comfort of my son looking after me in my old age. I won't 
     have my son around making sure I'm eating well, taking my 
     medications properly, taking care of my bills, making sure 
     that my house is warm in winter, and sidewalks shovelled and 
     de-iced when it snows. I don't have any more graduations to 
     attend, or opportunities to applaud successful career 
     achievements. I no longer hear funny stories or jokes (and I 
     was told my son was one of the funniest guys around, he kept 
     people laughing and feeling good.) But worst of all I can't 
     look or touch him anymore.
        When you people leave here, and fly back home to your 
     country, you probably have wives and husbands, children and 
     grandchildren. You know it's through our children we get a 
     little bit of immortality. You know your face, your body 
     type, your values are going to be around long after you're 
     gone . . . because of your children. Children are our legacy.
        Well I was robbed. And it looks like I won't have a legacy 
     now. My face, my body type, my values will probably disappear 
     when I die. It doesn't look like any part of me will appear 
     in the future. In the next century it will be as if I never, 
     ever existed. And, that's pretty sad.
        I've learned that there is nothing definite, overt action 
     to overcome the inertia of grief. Most of us have someone who 
     needs us. If we haven't, we can find someone! So instead of 
     praying for the strength to survive, I prayed for the 
     strength to give away.
        I joined the MILLION MOM MARCH. I went from being a victim 
     of gun violence to a survivor of gun violence. And, now I'm 
     an advocate for survivors. I'm thoroughly committed to saving 
     other children. Though I couldn't save my own child's life, 
     I'm going to do all I can to save yours.
        I know it is possible to reduce the number of deaths and 
     injuries caused by gun violence. Our children have the right 
     to grow up in environments free from the threat of gun 
     violence. My son certainly had that right which he didn't 
     get.
        Our children want to grow old. All humans have the right 
     to be safe from gun violence in their homes, neighborhoods, 
     schools and places of work and worship.
        Gun violence is a public health crisis of global 
     proportions that harms not only the physical, but the 
     spiritual, social and economic health of our families and 
     communities.
        The Million Mom March has a slogan, which I subscribe to 
     100 percent: ``No child's life should end with a bang''.
        I am trying to understand why my child had to die by 
     gunshot, but I don't understand. I know that you people 
     listening to me have very powerful positions in your 
     governments, and you'll probably never cross paths with women 
     like me again. So I implore to listen compassionately to what 
     we have said today.
        If I had one wish, it would be that all governments would 
     monitor the manufacture and distribution of firearms and 
     bullets with the same degree of care that they use to monitor 
     the removal of nuclear waste from reactors.
        We have an opportunity to change laws and create real 
     accountability on these items. We have to stand up now and be 
     counted on to do the right thing!

     

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