[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 13, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1529-H1530]
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 
Florida (Mr. Deutch) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I don't know what it is like to lose a child 
to gun violence. My words are not sufficient to describe that pain.
  These are the words of Patricia Oliver, the mother of Joaquin Oliver. 
Joaquin was killed 1 year ago tomorrow at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High 
School in Parkland, Florida.

       Dear Representative Deutch: I am writing to you to plead 
     with you to ensure that other mothers and fathers do not have 
     to endure this gut-wrenching pain, the senseless and 
     unnecessary loss of life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
     happiness for my family.
       My name is Patricia Oliver. My beautiful son, Joaquin, was 
     one of the 17 who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman 
     Douglas High School last year. Words cannot express the 
     devastation wrought on the families of the victims, the 
     shattering of families, friends, and those who survived.
       After the avoidable mass shooting, many said we were in 
     their thoughts and prayers. How many of you in this Chamber 
     uttered just those words?
       I thank you for your prayers, but are you actually thinking 
     about your constituents, about those you have sworn an oath 
     to serve, and about those you know and love? If you were 
     thinking, you would do something.
       It is in your power to enact commonsense gun laws, 
     commonsense mental health support, and appropriate support 
     and guidance

[[Page H1530]]

     to law enforcement. If we have the courage to stand up and do 
     this, then never again will thoughts and prayers be needed in 
     the aftermath of a mass shooting.
       This country is at a crossroads. We need your leadership. 
     We need your love, your compassion. We need your serious 
     thought unmarred by lobbyists.
       I implore you to think about the kids. Think about how you 
     would feel if it were your son, your daughter, your 
     granddaughter, or your grandson, because it could be.
       Had we--had the Members of this body--learned the lessons 
     of Columbine and of Sandy Hook, Joaquin would still be here. 
     The lives of hundreds would not have been ripped to pieces. 
     This was preventable.
       Something you can do, and urge your colleagues to do right 
     this moment, is support the recently introduced universal 
     background checks bill.
       It is now my mission in life to do whatever I can to ensure 
     that no mother and no father have to endure the pain I have, 
     that no shining beacon of light, hope, and love like my 
     Joaquin is snuffed out too soon in a preventable mass 
     shooting.
       We know that he didn't have to die if our leaders had done 
     enough. Other countries have solved this problem. The roadmap 
     exists. Please follow it.
       Sincerely, Patricia Oliver, Parkland, Florida.

  Mr. Speaker, Patricia and Manuel, Joaquin's father, have not allowed 
Joaquin to remain a victim. He is an advocate.
  Last month, the Olivers visited Capitol Hill with a statue of Joaquin 
to deliver this letter and to call for change. It is time to listen to 
them, Patricia, Manuel, and Joaquin. We shouldn't have to know the pain 
that Patricia and Manny know, that 16 other families in Parkland know, 
and that families in every corner of this country know, to do something 
about gun violence.
  The time to act is now.

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