[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2000

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, May 14, 2000, Mother's Day, I 
was proud to join countless mothers and family members in sending a 
loud message to Congress. It was a message to those Members who for too 
long have listened to the gun lobbyists and ignored the wishes of the 
mothers of this country.
  How many more children will be lost to gun violence before this 
Congress acts? How many more families, in every part of this country, 
will have to bury their young before the message of passing sensible 
gun safety laws is heard? And how long will mothers have to live in 
fear for their children's safety before some in Congress admit that 
guns are robbing families and this nation of our most precious 
possessions?
  The Chicago Tribune, in an editorial today, wrote that over the 
years, the voice for gun safety has been ``muted and polite.'' But the 
editorial went on to say that ``On Sunday it was loud, powerful and 
plentiful. When that voice comes to be heard on Mother's Day, Father's 
Day, Election Day and every other day of the year, the political 
leaders propping up the gun lobby will have a new reason to tremble.''
  That is true. This Sunday was the start of a movement. This is a 
movement that will help bring about change and save lives. It is a 
movement that will shape the future of this country. Mothers will 
continue to march until we get the job done.

                      Why Moms Must Keep Marching

       Congratulations to the organizers of the Million Mom March. 
     Whether or not they actually achieved their lofty seven-
     figure goal, their turnout was extremely impressive. In this 
     debate, numbers count.
       Hundreds of thousands of mothers and others turned out 
     Sunday in Washington and in towns across the country, 
     including Chicago. Their message was loud and clear: America 
     needs to get a handle on guns. Even after several years of 
     declining violent crime rates, firearms deaths in the U.S. 
     are astonishingly high compared to much of the rest of the 
     world.
       While the moms marched, the politicians and lobbyists who 
     have stifled gun legislation in Washington scrambled to put 
     up a brave front.
       The National Rifle Association countered with soft and 
     fuzzy TV ads preaching gun safety. That's a fine sentiment, 
     but it's a bogus one when it comes from the folks whose 
     primary mission is to prop up a furious and freewheeling 
     market in guns, including guns whose only purpose is to kill 
     human beings.
       Even in the wake of the horrendous Columbine High School 
     shootings, a stalemate in Congress has blocked modest gun 
     control measures. It's time to break that stalemate. Those in 
     the Capitol who still think they can duck and dodge this one, 
     all those moms on Sunday called them out.
       There has been a frustrating political dynamic at play in 
     this country. Support for gun legislation is widespread, but 
     it hasn't been particularly vocal.
       Those who oppose tougher gun laws are in the minority, but 
     they are well organized, they are fervent in their cause and 
     they have made themselves heard.
       That was clear in Illinois during recent debate over Gov. 
     George Ryan's call to reinstate a felony gun law. Skittish 
     legislators said most of their callers opposed Ryan's 
     position. But polling showed overwhelming support for it. 
     That included the vast majority of voters in the districts of 
     12 Republican senators who did not support the tougher gun 
     law. Ultimately, Ryan prevailed, after threatening to keep 
     legislators in Springfield until they say things his way.
       But many in Congress and the legislatures still tremble in 
     fear of the gun lobby. That's why the moms march was so 
     important. Heretofore that voice, the voice for gun 
     restriction, has been muted and polite. On Sunday it was 
     loud, powerful and plentiful. When that voice comes to be 
     heard on Mother's Day, Father's Day, Election Day and every 
     other day of the year, the political leaders propping up the 
     gun lobby will have a new reason to tremble.

     

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