[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 109 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADDRESSING THE URGENT NEED TO PASS NO FLY, NO BUY AND BACKGROUND CHECKS
(Ms. KUSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. KUSTER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to stress the urgent need to
pass legislation to keep our communities safe from those with evil
intent and who wish to harm innocent Americans.
I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, and I believe we
must uphold the tradition of my home State of New Hampshire for
responsible, law-abiding gun ownership. But as we saw in Orlando, it is
far too easy for individuals with evil intent to get ahold of firearms
and target innocent American lives.
That is why I strongly urge my colleagues to pass legislation to ban
those on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns. What is more,
we must increase background checks to prevent tragedies like the one in
my home State of New Hampshire in 1997, when an incredibly disturbed
man fatally shot Judge Vickie Bunnell, two State troopers, and a
newspaper editor. Individuals like this should not be given access to
lethal weapons. Rather, we should give access to mental health
treatment.
Let's put aside party politics and do what is right to keep our
communities safe.
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