[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  GUNS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now finally on guns, it is another tragic 
week of mass shootings, but gun manufacturers continue to stoop to 
disgusting and morally bankrupt new lows. I am talking about a weapon 
currently for sale that is actually being marketed by one gunmaker to 
children. It has a disgusting, horrifying name: the JR-15. The JR-15. 
You heard me right. That is what they call it. The JR-15 is a spinoff, 
a child-sized version of an AR-15, which, according to the company 
marketing it, ``functions like a modern sporting rifle'' but is 
``geared to smaller enthusiasts.'' Smaller enthusiasts? That is a code 
for ``young children.''
  Look at what just happened a few weeks ago in Virginia, where a 6-
year-old student shot his teacher at school. We are talking about a kid 
in the first grade who looked at his teacher and pulled the trigger. 
When weapons are marketed to children, it makes horrors like what 
happened in Virginia more likely. Even if the weapons are marketed to 
adults to give to their children, it creates these terrible, terrible, 
terrible situations.
  So later today, I and a group of my colleagues will ask the FTC to 
investigate the company that makes and advertises the JR-15. I want to 
be clear that this probe is not intended to be a cure-all for gun 
violence. We have a lot more to do in that regard. But we must shed 
more light on the prevalence of guns in our society, and regulators 
must take stronger steps to keep guns out of the hands of children. I 
hope it will pave the way for future action in Congress.
  I can't believe I have to say this: The last thing we need to be 
doing is reducing in size deadly weapons of war and marketing them to 
young children. Every parent in America, every citizen in America 
should be outraged and demand the FTC to take action.
  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. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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