[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16220-16221]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IN APPRECIATION OF THE NRA

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, nearly 2 months after the 
horrifying events at Virginia Tech took the lives of 32 innocent 
people, I am

[[Page 16221]]

grateful the House last week acted to improve State reporting to the 
National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Sadly, had this 
legislation been in place sooner, that tragic day at Virginia Tech 
might never have occurred.
  I'm especially pleased that the National Rifle Association, of which 
I'm a proud member, was active in supporting this effort. I'm also 
thankful John Goodwin, previously with former Congressman Rob Simmons, 
has recently joined their able team. The NRA plays a vital role in 
promoting second amendment rights, and I appreciate their work.
  Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families affected by the 
Virginia Tech shootings. I urge the Senate to quickly consider H.R. 
2640 to ensure guns are available to law-abiding citizens and kept from 
the hands of criminals
  In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget 
September 11. Our sympathy to the people of Charleston due to the 
tragic deaths of courageous firemen.

                          ____________________