[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H9103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE

  (Ms. DEAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DEAN. Mr. Speaker, in our conversation about gun violence, one 
side sees the need for background checks. The other side prefers to 
``enforce the laws we already have.'' Yet we do not have universal 
background checks, so we cannot enforce it. Meanwhile, our children are 
exposed.
  This year there have been 45 school shootings in 46 weeks, 370 mass 
shootings by the end of October. That is more than one per day. 
Something has got to give.
  Senator McConnell said he will hold a vote on our background check 
bill only if President Trump says he will sign it.
  So let me address the President directly from the heart: Sir, I have 
two granddaughters. Aubrey is eight; Ella is just one-month old. When 
Aubrey attends terrifying active shooter drills, what would you have me 
tell her? How about when she notices that we have laws barring certain 
people from owning guns, but that much of the time we don't bother to 
check who is who? Or when she realizes that her leaders could have put 
basic lifesaving safeguards in place, and they chose not to, what shall 
I say to her? What would you tell her?

  President Trump, my granddaughters, your grandchildren need your 
leadership, and so does America.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to address their 
remarks to the Chair.

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