[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 10, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5374-S5375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Background Checks

  Madam President, finally, on guns, over the August recess, Leader 
McConnell promised we would hold a debate on gun violence when we 
returned to Washington. Now that we are back, Democrats will insist on 
holding Leader McConnell to his promise.
  The debate on gun safety should be our first order of business, and 
the place to start a debate is a vote on the House-passed, bipartisan 
background checks bill. It is the foundation on which most other gun 
safety laws depend. We can't make a real dent in preventing gun 
violence without first catching the glaring loopholes in our laws that 
allow criminals, spousal

[[Page S5375]]

abusers, and the adjudicated mentally ill to buy firearms without a 
background check.
  Some are talking about the so-called red flag, but the red flag 
doesn't work if there is no background check. Mr. Jones is red-flagged. 
Then he goes online or goes to a gun show to buy a gun without a 
background check. The red flag doesn't work unless we tighten the 
loopholes--close the loopholes--on the background check law.
  Later today, Republican leaders will meet with President Trump to 
talk about the congressional agenda this fall. Gun violence, according 
to the reports I have read, is expected to be a topic of the 
conversation. I strongly urge my Republican colleagues to prevail on 
the President to support universal background checks. Leader McConnell 
has said he will bring a bill to the floor if it has the President's 
support. That means there is a truly historic opportunity for President 
Trump to lead his party toward sensible gun safety laws that in the 
past, Republicans, in obeisance to the NRA, refused to support for 
decades.
  Public support and public pressure is mounting from one end of the 
country to the other, with 93 percent of Americans supporting 
background checks. The vast majority of Republicans and gun owners--a 
vast majority--support it.
  The President can provide Republicans important political cover. They 
shouldn't need it because so many Americans are for this, but they do 
because of the power sometimes exercised rather ruthlessly by the NRA. 
The President can do it. This is a moment of truth for the President, 
for Leader McConnell, and for all of my Republican colleagues.
  The American people are fed up. Too many people are being killed 
across the country every day. Just yesterday, I was waiting at the 
airport, and a man came over to me and grabbed my arm and said to me 
that his nephew was a victim of gun violence. He pleaded with me for 
action. It is affecting more and more people, their families, their 
friends, and their communities. I imagine every one of my colleagues 
has met someone like this man over the past month.
  The Mayor of Dayton, OH, Nan Whaley, joined with Democrats yesterday 
at a press conference--another incredibly compelling voice pushing for 
progress on this issue. We invited her to speak at our caucus lunch 
today. I expect my Republican colleagues have mayors in their States 
who, just like her, are exhausted by the daily gun violence in their 
cities. Republicans have a chance today to convince the President to do 
the right thing and come out in support of a policy that is not a 
figleaf, that is not milquetoast and will do nothing, but one that will 
actually save lives.
  I strongly urge our Republican colleagues and Leader McConnell to use 
this afternoon's meeting at the White House to discuss supporting a 
bipartisan background checks bill.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of Florida). Without objection, it 
is so ordered.