[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8686]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            ORLANDO SHOOTING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, we should all be concerned with the 
killing of innocents. Let's start right here in America where we are 
under attack.
  We are all still reeling from the horrific violence in Orlando--49 
killed, more than 50 wounded. It is the worst mass shooting in American 
history. The killer was someone who, in his own words, identified with 
ISIS, a madman's fury directed at the GLBT community, who were 
slaughtered in a place of comfort, release, and joy. It was especially 
jarring because this has been an unprecedented period of progress for 
the GLBT issues on every front. New landmarks have been achieved.
  While this outrage is tragic, horrifying, and frustrating, it is 
important that people understand that the advocates of GLBT equality 
and of a rational approach to gun safety are not going to stop in their 
efforts for reform. The unprecedented outpouring of support in the wake 
of Orlando ought to be a source of comfort and strength for the GLBT 
community as people everywhere reaffirm their support and stand in 
solidarity for full equality. Our Pride Parade in Portland this weekend 
is going to be larger and more enthusiastic than ever.
  The equality tide is not going to turn, and the silly bathroom police 
in North Carolina is not where America is going or even where North 
Carolina will be in the future. While it seems gun violence continues 
unchecked by sensible gun safety laws, that tide, too, is poised to 
turn. We know what to do. No one needs an assault rifle to hunt; 
although it is very efficient to slaughter little children in school or 
people in a nightclub.
  There are dozens of simple steps that can be taken to protect 
Americans, steps which are, in fact, supported broadly by the public, 
not just by the majority of Americans but by most gun owners 
themselves. We should start with universal background checks for all 
gun purchases. Someone on the terrorist watch list should not be able 
to purchase a gun; no fly, no buy. If we can personalize our cell 
phones so that others can't use them, we ought to be able to make smart 
guns so that others cannot use guns unauthorized.

                              {time}  1015

  When somebody fails a background check, that ought to be reported to 
the authorities, who it was, and why.
  We can repeal the inane prohibition on gun safety research that stops 
us from treating the epidemic of gun violence like we would any other 
public health crisis. It is interesting that even the author of this 
misguided policy 20 years ago now realizes it was a mistake, and he has 
changed his mind and wants to overturn it.
  Just like automobile safety, we can take dozens of small steps to 
reduce gun violence. Not eliminate it altogether, but we don't stop 
treating cancer just because some people die; so it is with our 
commitment to gun safety. If we can stop a few tragic acts, it is worth 
it to reduce the number of attacks and save lives.
  We are poised for one of the most consequential elections in 
anybody's memory. Let's make it count. We have an opportunity to stand 
in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the LGBT community. We 
can join with President Obama and Secretary Clinton for enlightened 
national leadership, stand with the LBGT community committed to making 
this tragedy a turning point. This is the year to deliver on full LBGT 
equality and commonsense gun safety.

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