[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 111 (Monday, July 11, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H4578-H4579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              GUN VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McNerney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has endured a harrowing week, 
which has affected each and every one of us.
  Senseless and tragic violence, mass shootings, and shootings of those 
who have sworn to protect us have become part of our daily dialogue. We 
are forced to cope with the loss of family members, friends, our 
neighbors, and the fracturing of our communities as a result of gun 
violence in our country.
  My district is no different. Stockton, California, endured the 
Nation's first mass school shooting in 1989. A man opened fire at 
Cleveland Elementary School, killing 5 children and injuring 30 
students and teachers. It was a senseless act of violence that prompted 
the California State Legislature to ban assault weapons.
  This law helped pave the way for a Federal ban on assault weapons. 
Unfortunately, Congress gave in to pressure from the gun lobby and let 
the law expire in 2004. Today there are only six other States and the 
District of Columbia that have such a ban.
  This past Saturday, a man gunned down in central Stockton became the 
city's 25th homicide of 2016. In the U.S., more than 10,000 Americans 
will likely be killed by gun murders this year. Another 20,000 lives 
will likely be lost to suicide. The total number of gun deaths and 
violent injuries will be close to 100,000. The victims who make these 
headlines are just as important as the ones that don't.
  But there is a brighter side to this story. In my congressional 
district, as well as in others around the country, there has been a 
real concerted effort to unite community services, law enforcement, 
neighborhood leaders, and others to work together to address acts of 
violence. Although this effort has brought people together and helped 
focus the community to reduce violence, constant vigilance and peaceful 
involvement remains needed.
  Are there achievable changes to our gun laws within the Constitution 
that would make a difference?
  Absolutely.
  Should we, as Congress and the U.S. House of Representatives, work on 
behalf of our people we represent to take actions?
  Yes. Absolutely.
  America's poor and minority populations are disproportionately 
impacted by gun violence. A November 2015 ProPublica article noted that 
half of American gun death victims are men of color in poor, segregated 
neighborhoods.
  If we really care about our citizens, we should be taking concrete 
steps to curb gun violence with responsible legislation, such as 
expanded background checks, a ban on assault weapons, a ban on felons 
and domestic abusers from owning guns, and gun safety features and 
safety training.
  No one solution will completely solve the problem, but if something 
like expanding background checks to all gun sales will help keep guns 
away from dangerous people and save lives, wouldn't it be worth it?
  Many Members of this body have heard the call of action from our 
constituents and took to the House floor in a peaceful, yet meaningful 
way. We have taken the call to action and joined our constituents at 
events in our districts. We speak each day, and we will continue to 
speak about what is needed to change the cycle of violence plaguing our 
Nation.
  It is my hope that just as many folks in our communities strive to 
reduce all acts of violence that Congress will learn from them. We need 
a real dialogue about the challenges we face and what it will take to 
reduce violence in our communities. While such actions might seem 
difficult or impossible to achieve, we must join together in that 
pursuit and work toward a peaceful Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, not only do we have a responsibility here in Congress, 
but the citizens and the residents of this country have a 
responsibility, too. To those contemplating violence, you are hurting 
yourselves and the people you care about. Nonviolence takes more 
courage and achieves so much more.

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