[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 38 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E252-E253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              GUN VIOLENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 26, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the issue of gun 
violence in America.
  This Valentine's Day, February 14, 2018, marked the thirtieth mass 
shooting in our country this year, when a mentally unstable 19-year-old 
opened fire on Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, 
Florida with an AR-15 military style weapon, killing 17 individuals and 
injuring 15 others.
  We extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by this 
tragedy and recognize the skill and heroism of the law enforcement 
officers and first responders who came to the aid of others.
  We commend the efforts of those who are working to care for the 
injured and investigate this horrific incident.
  We extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of 
the fallen, and to all those affected in the community of Parkland, 
Florida and in the United States.
  The horrifying events in Parkland mark the 378th mass shooting in the 
U.S. since 2017, and the 30th this year, according to Gun Violence 
Archive.
  Mass shootings are a near daily occurrence in America, but what 
happened in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017 stands out: It was the 
deadliest such incident in U.S. history, with more than 58 killed and 
515 injured.
  A mass shooting is defined by Gun Violence Archive as any incident in 
which four or more are shot and/or killed in a single event, at the 
same general time and location not including the shooter.
  Recent U.S. mass shootings include:
  Las Vegas, 2017: 58 killed; 515 wounded
  Orlando, 2016: 50 killed
  Virginia Tech, 2007: 32 killed
  Sandy Hook, 2012: 27 killed
  San Ysirdo, 1984: 21 killed
  San Bernadino, 2015: 14 killed
  Edmond, 1986: 14 killed
  Fort Hood, 2009: 13 killed
  Columbine, 1999: 13 killed
  Charleston, 2015: 9 killed
  There were more than 11,600 deaths linked to gun violence in 2017, 
which is roughly equivalent to nearly four 9/11 attacks in terms of the 
total number killed on September 11, 2001.
  Comparatively, more than 15 thousand were killed by gun violence in 
2016, and there were 383 mass shootings.
  It is horrifying to admit that gun violence now seems to be a staple 
of American life.
  The United States ranks No. 1 in the world in terms of firearms per 
capita--with 88.8 guns per 100 people--and it has the highest homicide-
by-firearm rate in the developed world.
  The problem is so endemic that gun violence is now the third leading 
cause of death for children in the U.S.
  An average of 1,297 children die annually from gun-related injuries.
  Guns are linked to roughly 33 thousand deaths in the U.S. per year; 
about two-thirds of them are suicides.
  According to Pew Research Center, a majority of Americans (across 
partisan lines) support gun policy proposals such as barring people 
with mental illnesses from buying guns; prohibiting gun purchases by 
people on federal no-fly or watch lists; and background checks for 
private gun sales and sales at gun shows.
  America has six times as many firearm homicides as Canada, and nearly 
16 times as many as Germany.
  United Nations data shows that America far and away leads other 
developed countries when it comes to gun-related homicides.
  America has 4.4 percent of the world's population, but almost half of 
the civilian-owned guns around the world.
  In December 2012, a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School 
in Newtown, Connecticut, and killed 20 children, six adults, and 
himself.
  Since then, there have been at least 1,518 mass shootings, with at 
least 1,715 people killed and 6,089 wounded.
  The fairly broad definition of ``mass shooting'' includes not only 
shootings in which four or more people were murdered, but shootings in 
which four or more people were shot at all (excluding the shooter).
  Even under this broad definition, mass shootings make up a tiny 
portion of America's firearm deaths, which totaled more than 33,000 in 
2014.
  On average, there is more than one mass shooting for each day in 
America.
  Whenever a mass shooting occurs, supporters of gun rights often argue 
that it is inappropriate to bring up political debates about gun 
control in the aftermath of a tragedy.
  For example, former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a strong 
supporter of gun rights, criticized former President Barack Obama for 
``trying to score cheap political points'' when Obama mentioned gun 
control after a mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.
  But if this argument is followed to its logical end, then it will 
never be the right time to discuss mass shootings.
  Under the-broader definition of mass shootings, America has nearly 
one mass shooting a day.
  So if Congress is forced to wait for a time when there is not a mass 
shooting to talk gun control, Congress could find itself waiting for a 
very long time.
  The time for responding to mass shootings with thoughts and prayers 
has long since passed.
  The time for responding with effective legislation is now.
  I have called upon this Administration to secure the passage of H.R. 
4268, the ``Gun Safety Not Sorry Act,'' legislation I have introduced 
that would impose a 7-day waiting, or ``cooling off,'' period prior to 
the purchase or

[[Page E253]]

transfer of ownership of a semiautomatic firearm, silencers, armor 
piercing ammunition, or large capacity ammunition magazines.
  According to Newsweek, the ``Gun Safety Not Sorry Act'' is the No. 1 
legislative proposal that Congress can and should pass right now.
  The majority must cut its close ties to the powerful gun lobby to 
facilitate useful gun control legislation necessary immediately.
  The ``Gun Safety Not Sorry Act will not abridge the Second Amendment, 
it will not take away gun rights, and it does not impose greater 
restrictions on gun ownership--it will not stop all mass shootings but 
it will certainly help.
  In the wake of the horrific Valentine's Day mass shooting in 
Parkland, Florida, the emboldened survivors of the high school shooting 
are calling for immediate gun reform.
  States with tighter gun control laws have fewer gun-related deaths.
  I will soon introduce legislation to keep our children safe from mass 
shootings: the ``No More Atrocities with Guns Act'' (No MAGA Act) 
raises the minimum age from 18 to 21 for a person to purchase or 
possess semi-automatic assault weapons.
  Teenagers, whose brains are not yet fully developed should not yet be 
entrusted with a weapon that is designed to inflict maximum damage in 
minimum time.
  Americans cannot understand how it is legally possible for a 19-year-
old mentally unstable person to purchase such a highly lethal weapon 
such as the AR-15 assault rifle and then use that weapon to slaughter 
17 high school students.
  Although Americans say they want to protect the right to bear arms, 
they are very much supportive of many gun policy proposals--including 
some fairly contentious ideas, such as more background checks on 
private and gun show sales and banning semi-automatic and assault-style 
weapons.
  Mass shootings occur more frequently in states that do not require 
background checks for all gun sales.
  Analyses of mass shootings in the United States between 2009 and 2015 
document that the majority of mass shootings occur in venues where the 
carrying of firearm is not restricted.
  In states that require background checks for all handgun sales, 
including guns offered in unlicensed sales online and at gun shows, 
there are 52 percent fewer mass shootings.
  Congress must take action to prevent other incidents such as the 
recent act of terror and hatred in Parkland, Florida that resulted in 
the tragic loss of 17 innocent lives.
  There have been 32 moments of silence observed on the House Floor 
related to Gun Violence since 2012.
  The time for moments of silence has long since passed.
  The American people are demanding moments of action.
  I pledge to continue to work to reduce gun violence and prevent mass 
shootings.

                          ____________________