[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 10179]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   PURSUE COMMONSENSE GUN LEGISLATION

  (Ms. TSONGAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, last week, I had the opportunity to hear 
from the families of victims of gun violence. Each story was unique and 
heartbreaking. But for all the differences in their tragic 
circumstances, one common thread was echoed by every individual in the 
room: too many guns are too easily available.
  One mother said: ``Until we get these guns off the street, the cycle 
is going to continue.''
  One way to start to get the guns off the streets is through 
background checks.
  My office has heard from thousands over the last 2 weeks, over the 
phone, over Facebook, over Twitter. We have heard that Congress can no 
longer bend to the will of the gun lobby and prevent the passage of 
commonsense legislation that could save lives.
  During that meeting last week, a mother told me: ``Changes can be 
made because I have a voice.''
  Mr. Speaker, now is the time to heed our constituents' call and 
pursue real, commonsense legislation that helps get guns out of the 
hands of dangerous people.

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