[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 139 (Monday, September 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5037-H5038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Nickel) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in devastation and anger 
following the shooting at Apalachee High School, the deadliest outbreak 
of school violence in Georgia's history.
  As a father, I am heartbroken. As a Congressman, I am beyond 
frustrated that our work to improve school safety can't keep pace with 
the gun violence epidemic that is plaguing our country.
  The time for thoughts and prayers is over. It is time for action. Our 
kids deserve much more from the United States Congress.
  Guns are the leading cause of death for children in this country. 
This isn't normal, and it shouldn't be. Our students, families, and 
communities deserve to feel safe from gun violence. That means taking 
action, not just talking about it, and I believe we can do that 
together with responsible gun owners.
  I am a responsible gun owner. We want commonsense measures, too: 
universal background checks, safe storage laws, and banning assault 
weapons. These are mainstream ideas supported by the vast majority of 
the American people. They are about saving lives.
  Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker. We will not accept mass murder and gun 
deaths to be the norm. Mass school shootings are not a fact of life. We 
don't have to live this way.
  This year, I had the opportunity to go to Parkland, Florida, with 
Congressman Moskowitz where we met with survivors of the deadly 2018 
shooting to hear their stories. They lived through the worst, and yet 
they keep pushing for change.
  We have failed to do our part in the few short years since that 
horrific school shooting, even when the majority of the American people 
agree on how to move forward.
  In an April 2023 survey, FOX News found overwhelming support for 
commonsense gun violence prevention measures. Over 80 percent of 
Americans support background checks, making 21 the legal age to buy 
guns, and requiring mental health checks on all gun buyers.
  In Congress, I am part of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task 
Force and cosponsor of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. It is 
simple. If you want to buy a gun, you should have to pass a background 
check. That applies to sales between private parties, too. Right now, 
there are loopholes that let guns slip into the wrong hands. That has 
to end.
  I have also cosponsored the Assault Weapons Ban. No civilian needs an 
assault rifle. These weapons belong on the battlefields, not in our 
schools and not in our neighborhoods.
  There is also Ethan's Law. This is about accountability. It promotes 
the safe storage of firearms, so they don't end up in the hands of 
kids. It is about being responsible for your weapon, for your family, 
and for your community.
  I support a ban on high-capacity magazines, and I support closing the 
boyfriend loophole. That is the one that lets domestic abusers buy 
guns. Domestic violence and gun violence are often linked. This 
loophole costs lives.
  Let's not forget mental health. We need to fund mental health care 
and expand access to it, but mental health alone isn't the issue. This 
is also about guns.
  We need to act now. We need to keep our kids, our neighbors, and our 
communities safe with no more delays. Over 40,000 people lost their 
lives to gun violence last year alone. There are no more excuses. 
Massacres carried out using high-capacity magazines and bump stocks 
must end.
  There should be no more indifference. Poor and minority communities 
cannot continue to be disproportionately impacted by gun violence. No 
more inaction. Over 20,000 Americans die by gun suicide every year, 
which is why we mark tomorrow, September 10, Firearm Suicide Prevention 
Day.
  There should be no more deadly outcomes. Domestic violence should 
never turn fatal because of easy access to guns. We have waited long 
enough. It is time to act. There is no question that gun violence is 
out of control, and it is time we face it head-on.
  I will work with anyone--Republicans, Democrats, and Independents--

[[Page H5038]]

to make sure that happens. It is not just about policy. It is about 
people. People are dying. We can't wait any longer.

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