[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         STAND UP TO SAVE LIVES

  (Mr. CASTEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, on Father's Day, 23 
people were shot and 1 person was killed at a Juneteenth celebration in 
Willowbrook, Illinois.
  Law enforcement has not yet identified a suspect or a motive, but 
preliminary reports have indicated there were multiple guns and 
multiple shooters.
  In 2 weeks, Highland Park, Illinois, will recognize the 1-year 
anniversary of its July Fourth parade that killed 7 people and wounded 
48 others. In that case, the parade route was lined with armed police 
officers.
  Here is what we know. Having lots of guns around, whether at a 
parade, a Juneteenth party, a temple, or a school, does not make anyone 
safer. It just makes it more likely that yet another family is going to 
get a call to come down and identify yet another bullet-ridden corpse.
  Yet, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to walk 
through this Chamber with AR-15 lapel pins, proudly announcing their 
service as foot soldiers in the NRA's war on the living.
  I don't want a moment of silence. I don't want thoughts. I don't want 
prayers. They are all far too quiet, and they don't do a damn thing.
  Mr. Speaker, I need my colleagues to be brave. I need them to be 
loud. I need them to stand up and act like saving lives matters.

                          ____________________