Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Nadler and my colleagues for their leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, two gun violence protection bills that would help keep our communities safe.

Mr. Speaker, I am from Chicago, and we are no strangers to gun violence. In 2020 alone the city recorded 3,261 shootings and 769 murders.

Some of my colleagues might point out that Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. That is true. But studies tracking the guns show that guns often come from neighboring States with weaker gun laws. People drive one or two States over, and they come back with deadly weapons.

The reality is that State laws aren't enough. We need stronger Federal laws, too.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass these critical laws that have bipartisan support among voters across the country that would help keep guns off the streets.

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