[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12287]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      THE DAILY 45: 2 LITTLE GIRLS KILLED IN A SMALL OKLAHOMA TOWN

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2008

  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, 
every day, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United 
States. I grieve, daily, in solidarity with those I serve in Chicago 
over the senseless loss of life from guns, especially among our 
children. There are thousands of other communities across our Nation 
that, likewise, see their children cut down by perpetrators wielding 
the merciless barrel of a gun.
  Today, it's my sad responsibility to extend my condolences to the 
family and friends of 13-year-old Taylor Paschal-Placker and her 11-
year-old best friend, Skyla Whitaker, who lost their lives on Sunday, 
June 8. Both were shot while walking not far them their homes in the 
small, rural town of Weleetka, Oklahoma. As law enforcement officials 
continue to investigate this crime, these children's families and their 
close knit community of 1,000 are grieving and frightened while a 
murderer remains at large.
  Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless 
death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say ``enough is enough, stop 
the killing!''

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