[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BIPARTISAN BACKGROUND CHECKS

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, every day, we are reminded of the 
devastating toll of gun violence in our Nation. On average, around 100 
Americans die each day from gunfire. It is an epidemic of violence. 
This week marks the anniversaries of three horrific mass shootings.
  On February 15, 1 year ago, a gunman shot and killed five coworkers 
at a warehouse in Aurora, IL, and also shot and wounded five police 
officers who rushed to the scene. On that day, we lost Russell Beyer, 
Vicente Juarez, Clay Parks, Josh Pinkard, and Trevor Wehner.
  February 14 was the date of the 2008 mass school shooting at Northern 
Illinois University in DeKalb, in which a mentally disturbed gunman 
killed 5 students and wounded 17 more. On that day, we lost Gayle 
Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, Ryanne Mace, and Daniel 
Parmenter.
  And February 14 was also the date when 17 students and staff were 
murdered in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, 
FL.
  These anniversaries and statistics are grim, but they do not capture 
the true impact of this horrific gun violence--so many funerals, so 
many families and communities devastated.
  And every day we lose still more lives to gun violence in communities 
large and small. Just this past weekend, at least 23 people were shot 
in the city of Chicago, nine of them fatally.
  We pray for the families and loved ones of those we have lost, and we 
remember the wounded who bear physical and mental scars from their 
trauma. We also renew our thanks for the first responders who run 
toward the sound of gunfire and risk their lives to help others.
  There are many people throughout America who are doing all they can 
to try to reduce our Nation's epidemic of gun violence. This includes 
parents, community leaders, teachers, faith leaders, law enforcement, 
public officials, the medical community, and more.
  I particularly want to commend a coalition of hospitals that has been 
working with me in Chicago on the HEAL Initiative. This is an effort to 
coordinate these hospitals' resources, from economic investment to 
community programming, to help reduce violence and improve quality of 
life in their surrounding neighborhoods. There are promising efforts 
taking place in many States and local communities to address gun 
violence.
  But is the U.S. Senate doing all it can to protect our communities 
from gun violence? No, not even close.
  While there is no single reform that could prevent every shooting, we 
know there are obvious gaps in Federal gun laws that make it easy for 
felons, abusers, and mentally unstable people to get guns.
  Nearly a year ago, on February 27, 2019, the House of Representatives 
passed a bipartisan bill to close gaps in our background check system 
that allow an estimated 22 percent of gun sales to occur without a 
check. Around 90 percent of Americans support closing the gaps in the 
background check system. It is a step that would save lives. Yet the 
Republican Senate majority refuses to call the bill up for a vote. I 
can't explain why Senate Republicans won't take up bipartisan, House-
passed gun safety legislation that Americans overwhelmingly support. It 
makes no sense.
  There have been too many deaths, too many mass shootings, too many 
grim anniversaries, and too many excuses for inaction. It is time for 
Senator McConnell to call up H.R. 8, the bipartisan background checks 
bill, and hold a vote.

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