[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3680]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  CONDEMNING HEINOUS ATROCITIES THAT OCCURRED AT SANTANA HIGH SCHOOL, 
                           SANTEE, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JIM LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 13, 2001

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of gun 
violence at Santana High School, the countless lives that have been 
affected by this tragic incident, and the numerous similar tragedies 
that have happened over the past few years. The violence at Santana is 
deeply disturbing. No child should fear for her life in school, and no 
child should feel so alienated that he perceives violence as his only 
option.
  When Charles Andrew Williams entered school on Monday, March 5, he 
had already cried out for help. He had told his friends his plan. He 
had even told his friend's parent. In all, Andy Williams told over 20 
people what he planned to do. But no one took him seriously and now two 
children are dead. While this was clearly an act of rage, it was also 
one of fear and desperation.
  And sadly, Andy was not alone. Within 48 hours of his arrest, 16 
other children in California had been arrested or detained for 
suspicion of gun-related violence. In fact, since Dylan Kelbold and 
Eric Harris killed thirteen of their classmates at Columbine High 
School almost two years ago, over eighteen separate incidents of 
student-to-student gun violence have occurred. Many more planned 
attempts to emulate this violence have gone unreported or perhaps never 
even known. Just six weeks ago in East Providence, Rhode Island, a hit 
list was found that was written by four fifth graders.
  Many of us are at a loss to explain this explosion of school violence 
in recent years, but everyone agrees that we must address the mental 
health needs of our children. Education Secretary Rod Paige has 
attributed the rash of school shootings to `alienation and rage.' A 
recent Secret Sservice study concluded that the common theme underlying 
perpetrators of violent crimes in schools is depression. Three-quarters 
of children committing these crimes have talked about or attempted 
suicide. More than two-thirds report having been bullied by their 
peers. Disturbing emotions of alienation and rage in our nation's 
schools are real and pervasive and deep-seated. We must take steps to 
alleviate this pain and provide the help that our children are crying 
out for in these violent actions.
  Our schoolchildren need professional counselors who can help them 
cope with the pressures of being a teenager. They need supportive 
adults in their lives. They also need a moral compass that will help 
them sort through the violence that permeates our culture. What they do 
not need is easy access to weapons. Whatever alienation Andy Williams 
was feeling, he could not have committed such a heinous act without the 
help of a .22 caliber revolver.
  Guns are simply too accessible to children today, and American 
children are suffering the consequences. The accidental death rate 
among children from gunshot wounds is nine times higher in the United 
States than in the other largest 25 industrialized countries combined, 
and at least six loopholes still exist that allow children and violent 
offenders obtain guns. Guns alone do not kill children, but in times of 
extreme emotional distress they enable a disturbed innocent child to 
become a murderer.
  Efforts to increase children's self-esteem and to reduce their access 
to guns will decrease the number of these incidents. While I applaud my 
colleagues in honoring the children and families of Santana High 
School, I urge you to let this be the first step toward change, not the 
last. As one whose life was forever altered when a gun accidentally 
discharged, I know first hand that guns are dangerous and far too often 
fatal. For the sake of our children, I implore my colleagues to pass 
meaningful legislation to end school violence once and for all.

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