[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 14]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        REFOCUSING ON GUN SAFETY

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, nearly 100,000 children and 
teenagers have been killed by firearms since 1979. This figure 
underscores the inadequacy of Congress' efforts to address the issue of 
gun violence over this period and the continuing need for common sense 
gun safety legislation.
  An analysis of firearm violence data by the Children's Defense Fund 
found that guns kill more children between the ages of 10 and 19 than 
any other cause except car accidents. In 2002, the most recent data 
available, guns killed 2,867 children under 19 years old. Tragically, 
that means an average of nearly 8 children are killed by guns each day. 
Additionally, the CDF estimates that at least four times as many 
children are injured in non-fatal shootings.
  The number of firearms deaths among American children is greater than 
any other nation in the world. In fact, the Children's Defense Fund 
states in its 2005 annual report that the rate of deaths among children 
under 15 years old is higher in the United States than in 25 other 
industrialized nations combined. While the gun violence epidemic in 
this country cannot simply be legislated away, Congress must do more to 
address the problem.
  The Children's Defense Fund makes a number of recommendations to 
protect children from gun violence. Among other things, the CDF 
suggests removing guns from homes, providing nonviolent conflict 
resolution courses for all students, and creating positive community 
activities for children to reduce the influence of gangs and drugs on 
children and teenagers. Congress can take an active role in these 
efforts by taking up and passing common sense gun safety legislation, 
supporting federal funding for law enforcement and community programs, 
and focusing the media and public attention on the causes and 
consequences of gun violence.
  During recent sessions of Congress, very little has been done to 
reduce the prevalence of gun violence. In 2004, inaction by President 
Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress led to the expiration of 
the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. In 2005, Congress passed, and the 
President signed, National Rifle Association-sponsored legislation that 
provided blanket immunity from liability to reckless and negligent gun 
dealers and manufacturers. While doing so, Congress repeatedly cut 
Federal funding for proven local law enforcement programs and failed to 
close the gun show loophole.
  As we begin the second session of the 109th Congress, I am hopeful 
greater attention will be paid to finding solutions to the gun violence 
problems that plague our communities. We owe it to the thousands of 
families who have already been impacted by firearms tragedies to help 
prevent such things from happening to others.

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