[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6893]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   SAFE SCHOOLS AND SENSIBLE GUN LAWS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, the year that has passed since the tragic 
events at Columbine High School has been a time of soul searching for 
many Americans. We have had to ask ourselves some troubling questions. 
How did we let this happen? Why have we failed to pass sensible gun 
safety measures? Why doesn't the safety of our children count as much 
in Congress as the lobbying muscle of the National Rifle Association, 
NRA? Why did it take 15 deaths at Columbine to get us to take notice? 
Why wasn't a single death of a school child enough to make us realize 
the danger to which we have exposed our children in schools across the 
land?
  Speeches alone will not turn the tide in the battle over sensible gun 
laws. But those of us who believe we must do more to close the 
loopholes in the law which give minors access to guns have to match the 
single-mindedness of a single issue group like the NRA with our own 
focused determination.
  Just a few weeks ago, knowing that Congress was about to recess after 
again failing to take action on gun safety legislation, I offered these 
words:

       For the students of Columbine, every day is a struggle, 
     every day takes another act of courage. There is nothing we 
     can do in Congress to change that, but there is something we 
     can do to protect other students from the nightmares, the 
     anger, and the pain, as told by these students. Congress owes 
     it to Columbine and to the American people to try to end 
     school shootings and reduce access to guns among young 
     people. As of the one-year anniversary, Congress has failed 
     to do so.

  Over the last year, many Americans have decided to speak out on this 
issue. They are fed up with the intolerable level of gun violence in 
this country. They are outraged by the sight of a chain of preschoolers 
fleeing hand-in-hand from a deranged gunman. And, they are disheartened 
by the thought of a first grader shooting another first grader.
  On Mothers' Day, May 14, they will bring a powerful message to 
Washington and to 30 communities across the Nation, including Lansing: 
it is time for Congress to pass commonsense gun legislation. What began 
9 months ago, with two mothers and unparalleled dedication, has become 
the Million Mom March, the first-ever national march for gun safety. As 
a Dad who supports this march, I plan to walk along side Michigan 
mothers, future mothers, and all those willing to be ``honorary 
mothers'' calling for sensible gun laws and safe kids.
  In a few weeks, another school year will come to an end, but the push 
to enact sensible gun legislation will continue during this Congress, 
and every one thereafter, until we get it done. And, because of the 
efforts of the Million Mom Marchers and other Americans who are 
speaking out on this issue, I believe we will prevail.

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