[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 22, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4064-H4065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE NEED FOR UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Ms. Edwards) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is still horrified and 
heartbroken over the brutal act of terror and hate that killed 49 and 
wounded many more in Orlando, Florida, just over a week ago.
  We stand in solidarity with the loved ones of those who were lost, 
with the LGBT community that suffered this unimaginable act of 
violence, and the entire Orlando community as they work to move forward 
from this tragedy. We can work together to disarm hate.
  Gun violence has become unacceptably commonplace in the country. The 
Orlando attack is only the latest and the most deadly mass shooting in 
the history of the United States. We have a responsibility to do more 
to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
  But, Mr. Speaker, it is not just mass shootings that should be our 
focus. Guns have taken more lives in this country since 1968 than were 
lost in all the wars this Nation has ever fought. On average, more than 
89 people each day die due to gun violence, whether that is by 
homicide, suicide, or accident. That is more than 33,000 Americans 
being killed by guns each year.

[[Page H4065]]

  In just over the 3 years since Newtown, more than 111,300 people have 
been killed by someone using a gun in America. In my State of Maryland, 
in 2015 alone, more than 340 Marylanders have lost their lives to 
homicide by guns.
  Yet, despite the national consensus for legislation to keep guns out 
of the hands of terrorists and convicted felons and domestic abusers, a 
vocal minority, led by the National Rifle Association, stands in the 
way of commonsense proposals to keep our Nation safer.
  Those voices are forcing a false choice between constitutional rights 
and safe streets. We can do both. Congress can and must enact laws that 
improve the public safety while respecting the Constitution.

                              {time}  1115

  This Congress has no right to hold moments of silence anymore and 
then do nothing to prevent the next tragedy. This is a moment of truth 
for Congress. We cannot have another moment of silence without action. 
We can and should expand and strengthen our background checks and pass 
the bipartisan no fly, no buy bill to keep guns out of the hands of 
suspected terrorists.
  So today what we know is that across this country there are people 
who go to unlicensed dealers at gun shows and do what they could not do 
if they went to Walmart to get a gun, and that is to get one without 
passing a background check. These unlicensed dealers are a significant 
source of crimes in my State and across the country, with an estimate 
of 40 percent of all purchases made through them without a background 
check.
  Studies show that background checks actually do stop 170 felons, 50 
domestic abusers, and 20 fugitives every single day from buying 
weapons. It works when you do it.
  Recent polling shows that universal background checks are universally 
supported across the political spectrum. A CBS poll released just last 
week showed that 89 percent of the public supports legislation 
requiring background checks--the low-hanging fruit, the common 
denominator--and that includes 97 percent of Democrats, 92 percent of 
Republicans, and 82 percent of Independents. Who is left out? The vocal 
minority led by the National Rifle Association.
  Let's talk about the National Rifle Association, Mr. Speaker, because 
they actually used to support universal background checks at gun shows.
  On May 27, 1999, Wayne LaPierre, the current executive president and 
CEO of the National Rifle Association, testified before the House 
Judiciary Committee about 1 month before Columbine, in which 12 high 
school students and one teacher were murdered. He said this: ``We think 
it's reasonable to provide mandatory instant background checks for 
every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone.'' That 
is a direct quote from Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle 
Association.
  When did they change? When it became politically expedient to do the 
job of the gun industry. So, unfortunately, they have flipped their 
position. They no longer support expanded background checks, and they 
have worked to prohibit that action here in Congress.
  So I will say, Mr. Speaker, to Speaker Ryan and to my Republican 
colleagues: Enough already. We are tired. We are done. It is past time 
for the Congress to listen to the American public instead of to the 
National Rifle Association, to listen to the overwhelming number of 
Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, and to take guns out of the 
hands of terrorists, convicted felons, and those who would do harm to 
others.
  No bill, no break. It is time to disarm hate.

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