[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4282-H4283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, Democrats sat on the House floor 
for more than 26 hours. For a full day and night, we demanded justice 
for victims of gun violence and action to prevent the next tragedy; not 
just thoughts and prayers, but action.
  Republicans turned off the mics. They turned off the cameras and just 
left. They cannot silence our voices because we are speaking for the 80 
percent-plus of Americans who support commonsense reforms to stop gun 
violence, like background checks and keeping guns away from terrorists.
  While the recent tragedy in Orlando--a tragedy that claimed 49 
innocent lives--sparked the sit-in, there have been too many victims of 
gun violence throughout our country for too many years.
  In my district in 2012, we suffered a large campus mass shooting. 
These people were trying to get an education. They were studying to 
become nurses because they wanted to help people. But their lives were 
cut too short by gun violence. A man with a semiautomatic weapon killed 
Tshering Bhutia, Doris Chibuko, Sonam Chodon, Grace Kim, Kathleen Ping, 
Judith Seymour, and Lydia Sim.
  Sadly, these aren't the only members of my community who have lost 
their lives or loved ones to gun violence. Let me remember some of the 
victims of gun violence in my own community once again.
  In my district, for example, there were 89 gun deaths in 2015. What 
is worse, many of these were children. Since July 2009, nearly 50 
students in the Oakland Unified School District have been slain. Let me 
be clear: that is 50 kids.
  Why isn't the Speaker allowing us to do anything about this?
  Just this past weekend, in my community, four people were gunned down 
in two separate incidents. Every day in my community and places around 
this country, this senseless violence continues.
  How can House Republicans just ignore this bloodshed?
  Let me talk about a few additional victims so you can just understand 
their lives and share the horror that cut their loves so short.
  Davon Ellis. This is Davon. Davon was a star football player and an 
excellent student at Oakland Technical High School. My nephew was 
walking with him when he was gunned down.
  Antonio Ramos. Antonio was shot on September 29, 2015. Antonio was a 
talented artist working on an

[[Page H4283]]

antiviolence mural. He was one of 60 artists working on Oakland's 
superheroes mural project. He was shot by someone trying to steal his 
camera.
  Chyemil Pierce. Chyemil was 30 years old. She was shot on March 13, 
2015. She was a mother of three that was shot by a stray bullet while 
shielding her children. She had walked her 7- and 9-year-old children 
home from school at about 4:45 p.m., in broad daylight. Two others were 
injured in this shooting.
  Torian Hughes. Torian was the grandson of my friend, Oakland Council 
president Lynette Gibson McElhaney. He died by a gunshot just a few 
days before Christmas.
  Mr. Speaker, how many more Torians? How many more Antonios? How many 
more Chyemils will die protecting their children?
  Enough is enough. It is past time to do something. It starts with 
enacting background checks on all gun sales and making sure that guns 
stay out of the hands of those who cannot fly on airplanes. That is 
just common sense. The American people know it. It is about time the 
Republicans listen.
  I am so proud that my community, California's East Bay, has rallied 
to support our efforts. Some family members attended our National Day 
of Action last week and pleaded with us to do something.
  I want to share what one of my constituents said during our sit-in 2 
weeks ago on the House floor. She called my office, in tears, with a 
powerful message for all of us, especially Speaker Ryan.
  She said: ``I am a victim of gun violence, and I really appreciate 
what you are doing.''
  She made one simple request--a request that the entire House 
Democratic Caucus has been making: ``I hope you can settle down and get 
a vote.''
  I dare the Speaker to call her back and tell her: Sorry, we are 
trying to gain consensus. Some Members still have reservations. Sorry, 
reelection support from the NRA is more important than addressing the 
epidemic of gun violence.
  Call her, Mr. Speaker, and tell her that the NRA and its millions 
matter more than her.
  We need to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have 
them. Vote on our bills for background checks for all. Enough is 
enough.

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