Just Another Day in America

Floor Speech

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, today, like so many Americans, we are in utter disbelief that our country is once again left reeling after yet another horrific massacre of innocent Americans. There is grave concern that this has become the norm.

In fact, this is how the BBC characterized the shootings in California yesterday:

Just another day in the United States of America--another day of gunfire, panic, and fear. This time in California.

But it could have been, as it was last week, in Colorado, or in Arizona, or Oregon, or South Carolina, or Nevada, or Wisconsin, or D.C., or in Georgia, where it also transpired.

In the capital city of Connecticut, in Hartford alone, there have been 28 deaths this year as a result of gun violence.

In 11 days, we will be passing and observing the third anniversary of the mass murder of schoolchildren and their teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

In the 3 years since that tragic day in 2012, when many thought, ``Well now, finally now, this innocence, this slaughter of innocent children, surely there will be change. Surely the United States Congress will take a vote. Surely Congress will respond. They will take a vote. They will take action,'' but as we did then, we will do next week. We will stand in silence, a respectful and heartfelt silence, for victims of what happened in California and Georgia just yesterday. It is something this Congress repeats in such a way that the BBC characterizes it as just another day in America.

In the 3 years since that tragic day in December, in fact, there have been an additional--additional--1,000 mass shootings in the United States of America. One thousand mass shootings in the United States of America--that averages almost a mass shooting per day--and yet not a single vote, not a vote. Irrespective of where you stand on the issue, in the great Chamber where the country looks to for leadership, not a single vote.

Mr. Speaker, I want to put up this chart that I think graphically displays what has been going on in this country to illustrate a point--a sad point, no matter how you view this chart.

Between 2001 and 2013, guns killed more people in the United States of America than AIDS, illegal drug overdoses, wars, and terrorism combined. Gun violence has taken more individuals than all these other tragedies and calamities combined.

Far more Americans have faced and, as the families of victims, they hear the remorse, they hear the platitudes, they observe the moments of silence and the laying of wreaths, but there is no action that comes from the United States Congress. These statistics should stagger anyone who reads them and compel Congress to take action, any action, to address this epidemic of gun violence.

Now, I say ``any action.'' Whether you believe, as I do, that we should have commonsense, universal background checks so that we keep guns out of the hands of criminals, the mentally ill, and terrorists on a watch list, this is common sense. This is what I believe the Nation should be doing, and I believe, frankly, so do a majority of people in this Chamber and throughout this country, but we have yet to take a vote. We have yet, though there are bills on the floor, though they are bipartisan. At least the Senate, in a bill sponsored by Senator Joe Manchin, Senator Pat Toomey, put forward a reasonable proposition.

Whether you believe that it is a panacea or not or that it will somehow help, or maybe not, aren't the citizens of this country, aren't the families of the victims entitled to a vote? What do we owe our constituents if not a vote?

If the United States Congress continues to remain silent, as it has, I submit, we are complicit in these deaths every time we remain silent and every time we take no action.

It doesn't take a lot of courage, frankly, to vote. We are protected in this building by police. We are surrounded by armed guards. There is nothing that threatens any Member of Congress from doing his constitutional responsibility to vote.

What takes courage is what Officer Garrett Swasey did just last week, giving his life in the line of duty, defending and protecting people under siege.

Mr. Speaker, do you want to talk about terrorist threats? There is real terrorism happening in America every day: more than 1,000 mass shootings since Sandy Hook, deaths on our streets due to gun violence.

We could rush in a matter of days to this floor when an outrage occurred in Paris, rush to this floor in days with legislation to deal with refugees, and yet, in our own country, in our own cities across this Nation and throughout our States, can we not have a vote in Congress?

I recognize and respect the fact that people will disagree and perhaps think that background checks are not necessary or won't solve the problem. Maybe that is true. I don't believe so. But aren't we entitled to a vote? Aren't those victims of those families entitled to a vote? Do their voices mean anything?

If the vote fails, the body will have spoken, and if the vote succeeds, this body will have spoken also and will have an opportunity to see its results and observe it.

Mr. Speaker, that is how this great body works. To be denied the opportunity to vote only, in my mind, makes us further complicit to the tragedies that are happening all across this country.

Another day in America, another day of gunfire, panic, and fear. How about a day where Congress actually votes, where Members actually stand up and are accountable for what they say they believe in so no matter how you feel on this issue--and I truly respect people who disagree with me.

But I would like to have the opportunity to vote the conscience of my constituency and the beliefs that I deeply hold. It would seem to me that, in this day and age, in this body, we ought to be able to do that.

I recognize that there are probably not many people listening to my remarks right now, and I realize that Americans are incredibly frustrated with the United States Congress in general because of its inaction on so many levels.

But I urge anyone who is listening across America, whether you are opposed to universal background checks or you are in favor of them, to call their Representatives and demand of them before they go home to enjoy the Christmas holidays, before we adjourn, that we take a vote on this issue. Demand that we show you where we stand on commonsense background checks.

If you really believe in your position, what is there to hide from? We need to take a vote. Americans need to know where we stand. This isn't a profile in courage; this is our responsibility.

This issue has been looked at, it has been studied, and it has supporters on both sides. There is a discharge petition on the floor, but, frankly, this bill ought to be brought to the floor and voted on.

It should be voted on in the Senate Chamber. It is my understanding that Harry Reid will include it as an amendment. The Senate then will have voted twice, and the House remains silent. We need to vote.

In this body, in this great Chamber, I would much rather be known by the votes I have taken than the speeches I have made, the press releases that have gone out, and the 30-second sound bites that will follow. I would like to be known, as I believe all Members of this body would, for the votes I have taken standing up on behalf of my constituents.

Above the podium of the Speaker, there is a famous quote from Daniel Webster, and I paraphrase that quote. Webster asked aloud of all Members of this body whether, in our day and generation, we will perform something for which we will be remembered. I ask this body for a vote for which we will be remembered.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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