[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16215]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            AMERICA SCREAMS OUT FOR US TO PROTECT OUR YOUTH

  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is troubling, and 
there is a difference between the two parties. The Democrats want to 
try to solve Social Security, improve Medicare, and try to secure our 
youth from guns.
  Each day in America 14 kids age 19 and under are killed by guns. In 
1996, almost 5,000 juveniles were killed with a firearm. In 1997, 84 
percent of the murder victims age 13 to 19 were killed with guns.
  Mr. Speaker, 59 percent of the students in grades six through twelve 
know where to get guns if they want one. And it seems that no one cares 
about how many they get. Two-thirds of these students say they can 
acquire a firearm within 24 hours.
  It is time, Mr. Speaker, that we address this issue and get on with 
the concerns of the American people. Kids and guns do not mix, yet 
Republicans refuse to consider common sense gun safety measures that 
would only serve to protect kids. It is time for us to do it, Mr. 
Speaker. America screams out for us to protect our youth.

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