[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 179 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H9215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              GUN VIOLENCE

  (Mrs. LAWRENCE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stop the silence and to 
encourage and stress that my colleagues need to take action to expand 
background checks and to close the loopholes. I will continue to stand 
here and fight, and I will not be silent.
  While many of my colleagues have spoken about the loophole that 
allows terrorist suspects to purchase guns, we have many other 
loopholes that present a danger to the safety of Americans and our 
homeland.
  Since the enactment of the Brady Act in 1994, the law has stopped 
nearly 2.5 million guns from being transferred to individuals legally 
disqualified. However, despite the success of this law, it does not 
apply to 40 percent of all gun purchases.
  Mr. Speaker, 92 percent of Americans favor universal background 
checks. It is well past time for us, as Congress, to reflect the will 
of the people that we represent, to pass legislation to expand 
background checks, and to close the loopholes.
  Stop the silence. We must do what the people sent us here to do, and 
that is to take action.

                          ____________________