Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, is this some kind of cruel joke? We have already passed these bills, and we are bringing them up again today?

Just a few days ago we lost 49 innocent lives in the worst mass shooting our country has ever seen. Sadly, this isn't an isolated case. In the 3 years since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, there have been over 1,100 mass shootings and more than 34,000 lives have been cut short by someone using a gun.

What have we done?

We have held 30 moments of silence since Sandy Hook, but we haven't taken a single vote on legislation that would help keep guns out of dangerous hands. That is shameful. The American people deserve more than silence. The American people deserve a Congress that is willing to stand up and do what it takes to help keep our communities safe.

Republican leaders claim that these bills brought before the House for consideration today are a significant response to the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. They claim that because this was an act of terrorism, we don't need to take a vote on legislation to prevent gun violence.

The fact of the matter is, this act of terrorism was an act of gun violence. Over 100 people were shot, 49 shot dead, and today in America, suspected terrorists can still legally buy guns. Individuals on our FBI's terrorist watch list can walk into a gun store, pass a background check, and walk out with the gun or guns of their choosing, legally.

Since 2004, more than 2,000 suspected terrorists were able to purchase guns. I think that is wrong and so does the overwhelming majority of the American people. There is bipartisan legislation that would prohibit those on the terrorist watch list from being able to purchase firearms in our country. That is the bill we should be voting on today, not three bills that we have already voted and passed out of the House.

If Republicans agree that suspected terrorists shouldn't be able to buy guns, bring up that bill for a vote today.

What is it that the majority is afraid of? Is your fear greater than that of the fear of the people hiding for their lives in that nightclub in Orlando?

Give us a vote.

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