Gun Violence

Floor Speech

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, 3 weeks ago today, House Democrats conducted a sit-in to demand a commonsense debate and votes on gun violence. Americans gathered around their televisions, computers, and phones and rooted for this Congress to do the right thing.

Across the country, families demanded that this body take up two commonsense measures to reduce our country's epidemic of gun violence. Phones in our offices throughout Capitol Hill were ringing off the hook. Thousands of Americans--students, teachers, grieving parents, strangers to the political process--saw something that inspired and excited them, and they picked up the phone because they had hope. Their message: Thank you for fighting for us. Make sure something is done.

What did this Congress do with that hope? Well, instead of allowing a vote to expand background checks to keep Americans safe, instead of allowing a vote to close the terrorist gun loophole, instead of even having a debate on gun safety, the Speaker turned his back on the American people and sent the House home early.

Since Orlando, hundreds have died from gun violence. Just in the streets of Chicago, more than 300 people have been hurt or killed by guns in the last month. An average of 91 Americans are killed every day by guns.

There was a time when unthinkable violence and mass shootings shook our Nation to its core, and our elected leaders would find a way to bring us together like the bipartisan calls we heard for unity in Dallas yesterday. They would struggle to get it right, but ultimately they would and save lives.

It happened 82 years ago with the New Deal for Crime. It happened 48 years ago with major gun violence reforms. And it happened 23 years ago when Americans stood up to the powerful gun lobby and passed the Brady Handgun Violence Program. Each time, a frustrated, grieving, but determined Nation took a stand together to say enough is enough.

It has been 23 years since our country passed any meaningful gun violence legislation. Since then, gun-related crimes have claimed more American lives than AIDS, war, and illegal drug overdoses combined. Since Newtown, tens of thousands of lives have been lost to this deadly crisis. The number of bills that have been debated and passed by this Congress to prevent these deaths remains at zero.

This Republican Congress may find comfort in remaining silent, in doing the bidding of the NRA, in turning its back on our people. But our inaction disservices our constituents and the tens of thousands of families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Millions more worry that they and their families are not safe. And if mothers can't sleep at night knowing their children are safe from harm, neither should this Congress.

I challenge my colleagues who have been silent on gun violence to engage their communities when they go home, to try and find a way to reject the gun lobby's heavy hand and bring the will of the American people to this body and to help us reduce gun fatalities.

The number of Americans who are resolved to taking steps to reduce gun violence is growing. I ask my colleagues to take stock of their solemn duty to keep families safe from harm. I ask them to take stock of history. Do not bet against the American people. Stand with us to end Congress' deadly silence.

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