[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9140]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                                  GUNS

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, our responsibility in Congress is to 
find ways for the Federal Government to be a better partner in making 
our communities more livable for American families, to ensure that they 
are safe, economically secure, and healthy.
  Since I have been in Congress just 3 years, there have been eight 
multiple shooting deaths on our school campuses, with young children 
shooting other children and teachers. The epidemic of gun violence 
amongst our youth has tragic consequences in terms of loss of life, 
physical safety, the health of our community, to say nothing of the 
tremendous financial costs that are involved.
  For all the attention to the Littleton massacre, this is, in fact, 
occurring every day. It is just that the pain is scattered from town to 
town, from city to city in isolated bursts that even without the 
massive national media coverage is nonetheless producing pain every bit 
as real.
  Yesterday there was a conference at the White House on reducing gun 
violence amongst our children. It was assailed by some because it did 
not go far enough in suggesting steps that virtually every other 
country has done to reduce gun violence.
  Over 5,000 American children are killed by firearms every year in 
this country. By contrast, only 15 people in the entire country of 
Japan were murdered with handguns last year. At the same time, it was 
attacked by apologists for gun violence, who contend that there really 
are no useful government initiatives to reduce gun violence other than 
stricter enforcement of laws, more prison time for criminals, and wider 
use of firearms.
  I am heartened by the meeting and the discussion yesterday, because 
most Americans know that the people who hold the most extreme views are 
simply wrong. Just as there is no single identifiable cause of the 
Littleton tragedy, there is no single magic solution. But it is 
defeatist in the extreme and an abrogation of our responsibility as 
Americans, and especially as Members of Congress, to fail to do 
everything in our power to make a difference.
  The research shows we can and that we will be supported by the vast 
majority of the American people if we do take action. For example, we 
must stop the travesty of allowing the gun industry to operate without 
protections for public health.
  There ought to be the same scrutiny applied to real guns as applied 
to toy guns as far as consumer protections are concerned. We should not 
sell one more new gun in this country that does not tell us if there is 
a bullet in the chamber.
  There ought to be no loopholes for the background check requirements 
of the Brady bill, which has prevented more than a quarter million 
known felons from buying weapons. We ought to extend that prohibition 
to deny people with a history of violent and reckless behavior the 
ability to purchase and own firearms.
  The Federal Government should select a date in the near future when 
it will require that all the guns that we supply to our thousands of 
employees will be personalized so that that weapon cannot be used 
against them.
  We ought to assure that people who manage their guns in a reckless 
fashion are held accountable. We ought to make the child access law 
pioneered years ago in Florida the law of the land, protecting families 
everywhere.
  The leadership in this Congress ought to have the courage to insist 
that the proposals be debated in the House of Representatives as they 
are this week in the Senate.
  Once this sees the light of day on the floor of the House, we will 
find that, in fact, there are men and women in both parties who have 
the conscience, have the conviction to stand up to the apologists for 
gun violence and take these simple, common-sense steps to reduce the 
tragic toll that gun violence has had in our communities.
  An important first step will be the Comprehensive Child Violence 
Protection Act introduced by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
McCarthy). I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring her 
legislation and to urge the Republican leadership to finally find it in 
their hearts to allow this to be debated on the floor of the House.
  The carnage of Littleton will occur again today in dozens of 
instances across America. I hope that this is the last day that 
Congress is missing in action and that this Congress finally steps 
forward to do all it can to protect our families and their children 
from senseless gun violence.

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