[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 113 (Wednesday, July 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              GUN VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Massachusetts (Ms. Clark) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, 3 weeks ago today, House 
Democrats conducted a sit-in to demand a commonsense debate and votes 
on gun violence. Americans gathered around their televisions, 
computers, and phones and rooted for this Congress to do the right 
thing.
  Across the country, families demanded that this body take up two 
commonsense measures to reduce our country's epidemic of gun violence. 
Phones in our offices throughout Capitol Hill were ringing off the 
hook. Thousands of Americans--students, teachers, grieving parents, 
strangers to the political process--saw something that inspired and 
excited them, and they picked up the phone because they had hope. Their 
message: Thank you for fighting for us. Make sure something is done.
  What did this Congress do with that hope? Well, instead of allowing a 
vote to expand background checks to keep Americans safe, instead of 
allowing a vote to close the terrorist gun loophole, instead of even 
having a debate on gun safety, the Speaker turned his back on the 
American people and sent the House home early.
  Since Orlando, hundreds have died from gun violence. Just in the 
streets of Chicago, more than 300 people have been hurt or killed by 
guns in the last month. An average of 91 Americans are killed every day 
by guns.
  There was a time when unthinkable violence and mass shootings shook 
our Nation to its core, and our elected leaders would find a way to 
bring us together like the bipartisan calls we heard for unity in 
Dallas yesterday. They would struggle to get it right, but ultimately 
they would and save lives.
  It happened 82 years ago with the New Deal for Crime. It happened 48 
years ago with major gun violence reforms. And it happened 23 years ago 
when Americans stood up to the powerful gun lobby and passed the Brady 
Handgun Violence Program. Each time, a frustrated, grieving, but 
determined Nation took a stand together to say enough is enough.
  It has been 23 years since our country passed any meaningful gun 
violence legislation. Since then, gun-related crimes have claimed more 
American lives than AIDS, war, and illegal drug overdoses combined. 
Since Newtown, tens of thousands of lives have been lost to this deadly 
crisis. The number of bills that have been debated and passed by this 
Congress to prevent these deaths remains at zero.
  This Republican Congress may find comfort in remaining silent, in 
doing the bidding of the NRA, in turning its back on our people. But 
our inaction disservices our constituents and the tens of thousands of 
families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Millions more worry 
that they and their families are not safe. And if mothers can't sleep 
at night knowing their children are safe from harm, neither should this 
Congress.
  I challenge my colleagues who have been silent on gun violence to 
engage their communities when they go home, to try and find a way to 
reject the gun lobby's heavy hand and bring the will of the American 
people to this body and to help us reduce gun fatalities.
  The number of Americans who are resolved to taking steps to reduce 
gun violence is growing. I ask my colleagues to take stock of their 
solemn duty to keep families safe from harm. I ask them to take stock 
of history. Do not bet against the American people. Stand with us to 
end Congress' deadly silence.

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