[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20114-20115]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

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                          HON. MARCIA L. FUDGE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 11, 2015

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I am sick and tired of people talking about 
gun violence as if it is just another headline or topic of the day. 
While we tend to discuss gun violence because it occurs so frequently 
in our country, another debate is not enough.
  How many Americans do we have to bury before gun violence stops? What 
will it take for every Member of this House to consider gun safety 
laws? And, when will we stop talking about the lives lost and take real 
action to save our constituents before their names are called before a 
moment of silence?
  It is clear that there is a culture of violence pervading our 
society. It is crippling us at our core: tearing families apart and 
hurting communities. Perpetrators are cutting off generations at the 
head and ending lives way too soon.
  Gun violence is a crisis of murder. We need to call it what it is. We 
must figure out how to stop people from killing other people and get 
guns out of the hands of those that do not need them.

[[Page 20115]]

  Proponents of gun rights say that there is an absolute right to bear 
arms. I disagree. All rights are subject to reasonable restrictions. 
But what is absolute, is that Americans have the right to leave their 
homes without being shot. All Americans deserve to live free from fear.
  But, every day Congress does not act, we lose more innocent children, 
men and women. Every day we do nothing, we forfeit more lives.
  I call on my colleagues in Congress to pass comprehensive, national 
gun policies that eliminate loopholes, ban assault weapons, and place 
limits on high-capacity magazines. Several bills have been introduced 
in the House this year. I have co-sponsored many. Yet, none have made 
it to the House Floor.
  This is unacceptable. We have to protect the lives of our 
constituents.
  It saddens me that we are still just talking about gun safety. We did 
the same after Sandy Hook and Newtown. We reacted similarly following 
Aurora, Charleston, Oregon, and now San Bernardino. And, discussions 
continue after each tragic instance of gun violence in our districts.
  We are complicit in this violence if we fail to strengthen our gun 
laws and combat other reasons these murders continue. Comprehensive gun 
control may not be a panacea, but it is indeed a good start. It is time 
to take action. Let's make our streets safer for all Americans.




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