[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5447-H5448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise yet again to speak out about mass 
shootings and gun violence in our Nation. When I think of Newtown, of 
Charleston, of Orlando, my heart just breaks.
  Mr. Speaker, what would it take for Congress to act? How many more 
must suffer? How many more must die? How many more little children must 
die? How many more mothers and fathers will mourn the loss of a child?
  Today, Mr. Speaker, I ask you to think of Taylor Hayden, the 
beautiful young woman celebrating a girls' weekend in Atlanta who was 
killed by gang crossfire. Please think of the young woman killed while 
driving home from work in southwest Atlanta. Think of the woman 
fighting for her life at this very moment in Grady Hospital in downtown 
Atlanta. Just last week, she was injured in a shooting that brought the 
interstate, I-85, to a stop.
  Mr. Speaker, time and time again, we asked for compassion. Time and 
time again, we asked for action. Time and time again, we asked for 
leadership. Our people are sick and tired of a do-nothing Congress. 
They elected us to do our jobs. Instead, Mr. Speaker, we take a break.
  Mr. Speaker, Republicans must join with Democrats and do what is 
right, what is just, what is fair, and what is long overdue. There are 
good, commonsense proposals that not only protect rights, but also will 
save lives. These bills should be passed. Bring them to the floor. Let 
us have a vote. Give us a vote. Time is of the essence. We cannot be 
silent, and we will not be silent. We cannot wait for another time, 
another place, another person. Mr. Speaker, the time is now for us to 
act.

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  Today I urge all of my colleagues to join us. Be brave. Be bold. Take 
a stand for what is good and necessary. Or if you prefer, please take a 
seat, roll up your sleeves, and let's go to work. The time for silence 
is over. It is time to move.
  Mr. Speaker, I truly believe that the spirit of history is upon us. 
We have a mission. We have a moral obligation and a mandate to do what 
is right. History will not be kind to us if Congress continues to turn 
a blind eye and a cold shoulder to those crying, begging, and pleading 
for action.
  I ask my colleagues, each and every one of you, to join me in the 
well. We must pass commonsense legislation to prevent gun violence and 
mass shootings in our country, and we must act now. History is 
demanding, the people are demanding that we act, and that we act now--
not next week, next month, or next year, but now, before we leave and 
go home.

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