[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9330-9331]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    JUVENILE VIOLENCE AND GUN SAFETY

  (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, it is time for this House to schedule a 
vote on gun safety legislation, legislation to keep guns out of the 
hands of children.
  Often children are their very worst enemy, especially when a gun is 
involved. Yet, only 16 States have child access prevention laws. In 
fact, in most

[[Page 9331]]

States, there are no laws requiring proper firearm storage.
  Unlocked guns present an irresistible temptation to young adults and 
curious children. That is why we must pass legislation like the 
Children's Violence Prevention Act, to reduce children's access to 
guns, impose criminal penalties on adults who do not keep firearms out 
of the reach of children, and require manufacturers to make safe and 
child-proof guns.
  Gun safety legislation alone will not solve the problem of juvenile 
violence or make our schools islands of safety overnight, because our 
children's safety must be protected on many fronts. But our children 
and their schools will be much safer when guns are not available.

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