[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4292-H4293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN HONOR OF CORA WILSON, STOP THE VIOLENCE

  (Ms. SEWELL of Alabama asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Cora Wilson, let's 
stop the violence. I rise today to tell the story of Cora Wilson, a 34-
year-old mother from Birmingham, Alabama, who was shot and killed by 
her ex-boyfriend in front of her eight children on May 12, 2016.
  Like many women who suffer from domestic violence, Cora Wilson 
endured abuse for too long. On a Wednesday night in May of 2016, her 
abuser ignored the restraining order and showed up at the house, where 
he killed Ms. Wilson and shot four of her children.
  I cannot mourn this tragedy with my community without doing all that 
I

[[Page H4293]]

can to prevent such events from happening in the future. Congress must 
act now.
  The intersection between domestic violence and gun safety is 
paramount. While I am a supporter of the Second Amendment, the rights 
protected in the Second Amendment are not immune from government 
regulation. In fact, Congress has repeatedly failed to pass commonsense 
gun safety reform.
  Make no mistake, strengthening the background checks, eliminating gun 
show loopholes, and preventing potential terrorists will not limit the 
rights of lawful gun owners to protect and defend themselves.
  The rising tide of gun violence in our communities must stop. In 
memory of Cora Wilson and the thousands of other domestic violence 
senseless deaths, let's act now.

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