[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 195 (Thursday, November 30, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H9522-H9523]
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
Illinois (Ms. Kelly) for 5 minutes.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise yet again because
Americans are dying and this House is doing nothing. Correction, we
aren't doing nothing. House Republicans are planning to make the
situation worse.
Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee considered the so-called
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which should be called the ``Exporting
Gun Violence Across State Line Act.''
In addition to threatening the safety of our communities, this bill,
H.R. 38, is not only a threat to innocent citizens, but a direct threat
to the brave men and women who protect and serve our communities.
So far this year, 42 law enforcement officers have been shot and
killed in the United States.
I come from a law enforcement family. I have police officers--uncles,
cousins, and nephews--serving in New York City and Chicago. I know the
fear that law enforcement families feel, the constant worry that they
may not come home, that you might get that call in the middle of the
night or a knock on the door from the police chaplain.
If this House passes this dangerous bill, more law enforcement
families will get these calls and get these late-night visits that no
family should ever get.
H.R. 38 is opposed by many law enforcement organizations, including
the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police
Foundation, the Police Executive Research Forum, Major Cities Chiefs
Association, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association,
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National
Associations of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the International
Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and many others.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of opposition from the
National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence.
National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence
STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIP TO PREVENT GUN
VIOLENCE ON THE CONCEALED CARRY RECIPROCITY ACT OF 2017--S. 446 & H.R.
38
Washington, DC.--The National Law Enforcement Partnership
to Prevent Gun Violence urges members of Congress to oppose
both the House and Senate versions of ``Concealed Carry
Reciprocity''--The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017
(HR. 38), sponsored by Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC),
and The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of
2017 (S. 446), sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX),
respectively.
The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun
Violence (the Partnership) includes nine national law
enforcement organizations dedicated to serving the Nation's
more than 900,000 sworn and civilian law enforcement
officers, executives, and professional staff.
The Partnership has opposed previous legislative attempts
to mandate concealed carry reciprocity nationwide because
such schemes severely undermine successful, well established
state laws governing carrying concealed firearms.
H.R. 38 and S. 446 would require each state--even those
with strong permitting standards and stringent training
requirements--to allow anyone to carry a concealed firearm so
long as the person's own home state allows it. These
misguided bills would preempt local and state perspectives on
what's best for communities by forcing states to accept
weaker concealed carry standards of other states and
eliminates every state's ability to determine who may
exercise the enormous responsibility of carrying a firearm,
concealed or otherwise.
Training is a vitally important aspect of carrying a
concealed firearm. Law enforcement officers are extensively
trained to understand responsible firearm use, including
making split-second decisions about when deadly force is
appropriate; they also attend periodic in-service training
and regularly requalify with their service weapons, most at
least semi-annually. According to the Bureau of Justice
Statistics, states require an average 92 hours of firearms
skills and judgment training before certifying someone to
carry a gun as a police officer. While a majority of states
require a minimum number of hours of training to be eligible
for civilian concealed firearm permits, several states do not
require any training at all to carry a firearm in public. No
state should be forced to accept a person carrying a
concealed firearm who has not received gun safety training.
In addition, during public contacts, police officers will
face the daunting task of verifying the validity of different
carry permits from the states that issue them. Twelve states
require no permit whatsoever to carry a concealed gun, taking
away an officer's ability to determine if a person is
carrying legally. Reciprocity would leave law enforcement
helpless to keep guns out of the wrong hands when a person
claims ``constitutional carry'' authority. This obvious step
in the wrong direction would sow chaos and uncertainty,
making a cop's job harder and citizens less safe. Under the
House bill (H.R. 38), attempting to verify a permit or
identification card comes with potential legal liability for
law enforcement, an outrageous outcome for an officer trying
to protect his or her community.
[[Page H9523]]
The complete lack of consistent training standards, the
different standards for identifying individuals that are too
dangerous to carry, the uncertainty of a document's validity,
and the exposure of agencies and police officers to civil
liability create unacceptable risks to our nation's 900,000
police officers and the public at large. We reject the idea
that one state's approach to carrying a concealed firearm
will work across the country. States and localities should
maintain their rights to legislate concealed carry laws that
best meet the needs of their citizens.
The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun
Violence urges you to respect and defend state laws while
protecting and supporting our nation's police officers by
opposing H.R. 38 and S. 446. Thank you for your support.
The Partnership Includes: Hispanic American Police Command
Officers Association (HAPCOA), International Association of
Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Major Cities Chiefs
Association (MCCA), National Association of Women Law
Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), National Organization of
Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Police Executive
Research Forum (PERF), Police Foundation (PF).
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the letter, in part, states that
the bill will create unacceptable risk to our Nation's 900,000 police
officers and the public at large.
The Fraternal Order of Police has come out in opposition to a similar
bill in the Senate.
Mr. Speaker, the police are telling us that it is dangerous to them
and the public safety at large.
So why is the majority pushing it so hard?
Because, once again, the majority is putting the NRA's agenda above
the lives of Americans and our law enforcement officers. This is simply
unacceptable.
Why are we considering a bill that puts our officers at greater risk?
Why should we take up legislation that we know will increase the number
of gun deaths, including among law enforcement officers? Why would we
make a dangerous job more dangerous just to satisfy the NRA?
Why is it cosponsored by one of my colleagues who demanded that a
painting be taken down for disrespecting law enforcement, but he is
willing to cosponsor a bill that puts their lives at greater risk?
I guess it is easier to complain about a picture than stand up to the
NRA.
Mr. Speaker, once again, the NRA's checks are influencing this House.
The victims of gun violence should matter more than their dollars.
Dollar 209, Deputy Sheriff Robert French, end of watch, August 30,
2017;
Dollar 210, Officer Miguel Moreno, end of watch, June 30, 2017;
Dollar 211, Trooper Joel Davis, end of watch, July 9, 2017;
Dollar 212, Agent Roberto Medina-Mariani, end of watch, September 11,
2017;
Dollar 213, Captain Bryon K. Dickson, II, end of watch, September 12,
2014;
Dollar 214, Special Agent Michael T. Walter, end of watch, May 27,
2017;
Dollar 215, Corporal Stephen J. Ballard, end of watch, April 26,
2017;
Dollar 216, Officer Miosotis Familia, end of watch, July 5, 2017;
Dollar 217, Lieutenant Kevin Mainhart, end of watch, May 11, 2017;
Dollar 218, Lieutenant Patrick Weatherford, end of watch, June 12,
2017;
Dollar 219, Sergeant Richard ``Sam'' Howard, end of watch, August 19,
2017.
{time} 1030
Dollar 220, Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore, end of watch, May 16, 2017;
Dollar 221, Chief Steven Eric DiSario, end of watch, May 12, 2017;
Dollar 222, Master Sergeant Debra Clayton, end of watch, January 9,
2017;
Dollar 223, Deputy Sheriff William Durr, end of watch, May 27, 2017;
Dollar 224, Officer Eric G. Kelly, end of watch, April 4, 2009;
Dollar 225, Officer Gary Michael, end of watch, August 6, 2017;
Dollar 226, Corrections Officer Curtis Billue, end of watch, June 13,
2017;
Dollar 227, Agent Benjamin De los Santos-Barbosa, end of watch, April
21, 2017.
Mr. Speaker, I will jump to dollar 234, Trooper Damon Allen, whom we
just heard about, end of watch, November 23, 2017.
We cannot let this bill pass. If we pass H.R. 38, that number will,
tragically, grow.
Dollar 228, Officer Sean Clark, end of watch, March 31, 2007;
Dollar 229, Deputy Sheriff David Wade, end of watch, April 18, 2017;
Dollar 230, Lieutenant Aaron Allan, end of watch, July 27, 2017;
Dollar 231, Assistant Chief Deputy Clinton Greenwood, end of watch,
April 3, 2017;
Dollar 232, Deputy Sheriff Mark Burbridge, end of watch, May 1, 2017;
Dollar 233, Officer Justin Terney, end of watch, March 27, 2017;
Dollar 235, Officer Alyn Beck, end of watch, June 8, 2014;
Dollar 236, Detective Sean Suiter, end of watch, November 16, 2017;
Dollar 237, Officer Justice Leo, end of watch, October 21, 2017;
Dollar 238, Officer Marcus McNeil, end of watch, October 13, 2017;
Dollar 239, Officer Stephen Mayhle, end of watch, April 4, 2009;
Dollar 240, Officer Floyd East, Jr., end of watch, October 9, 2017;
Dollar 241, Corporal Michael Paul Middlebrook, end of watch, October
1, 2017;
Dollar 242, Detective Kristen Hearne, end of watch, September 29,
2017;
Dollar 243, Officer Igor Soldo, end of watch, June 8, 2014;
Dollar 244, Officer Matthew Baxter, end of watch, August 18, 2017;
Dollar 245, Officer Paul Sciullo, end of watch, April 4, 2009;
Dollar 246, Officer Deriek W. Crouse, end of watch, December 8, 2011;
Dollar 247, Deputy Sheriff Dwight Darwin Maness, end of watch,
September 14, 2015;
Dollar 248, Officer Jeff Shelton, end of watch, March 31, 2007;
Dollar 249, Officer Thor Odin Soderberg, end of watch, July 7, 2010;
Dollar 250, Officer Brian David Shaw, end of watch, November 17,
2017.
Every year, more and more officers die from guns in the line of duty.
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