[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H5341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act.
  As we all know by now, on May 24, 21 children and teachers were 
senselessly murdered in Uvalde, Texas. Just 10 days earlier, 10 Black 
people were killed in a racially motivated hate crime.
  For decades, the epidemic of gun violence has gripped this country, 
depriving Americans of their neighbors, siblings, children, and 
friends. On average, over 38,000 people die from gun violence every 
year in this country, including, on average, over 1,600 children. That 
is roughly an average of five kids every day.
  Think about that: Five children being murdered, committing suicide, 
or being killed by the unintentional discharge of a weapon every day in 
America.
  I do not pretend that this bill will save every one of those children 
or stop racially motivated murder in our Nation, but the idea that we 
simply stand back and do nothing and expect this problem to resolve 
itself is nonsense.
  It offends the tens of thousands of gun violence victims every year, 
their families, and communities that are ravaged by unending tragedy. 
We can and we must take steps, meaningful steps, to reduce gun 
violence.
  This bill will restrict the sale of assault-style weapons to those 
over the age of 21 years old. It will close longstanding and dangerous 
loopholes in Federal law, require that firearms sold in the United 
States be traceable, and help prevent gun trafficking, among other 
steps. These are measured, commonsense, and widely supported measures 
that would help reduce gun violence in our country.
  As an American, as a Congresswoman, and as a mother of two children, 
I implore the Members of the House and the Senate to pass this bill. I 
am pleading with this Congress to set aside partisanship, dogma, and 
reflexive bickering. Now is the time to come together and act in unison 
to end the violence in our schools and on our streets.

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