Gun Violence is the Leading Cause of Death for American Children

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the west Michiganders who are asking and begging Congress to finally act on the uniquely American gun violence epidemic.

As a mother and a lawmaker, I simply cannot sit by and let our kids be senselessly killed in their classrooms and our communities any longer. It is just too much.

Gun violence has become the number one cause of death for kids in the United States. Not drug overdoses, not car accidents. Gun violence.

Earlier this year, the entire State of Michigan watched in horror as the Michigan State University campus was on lockdown during a mass shooting. Three students died and five were injured. The reverberating impacts were felt around the entire State and the entire country. The effects of this trauma linger.

This is now the reality for our children and young adults, but it doesn't have to be.

I stand here on the floor today with my sons watching on, urging my Republican colleagues to take commonsense action. We can and must come together to close loopholes in the law, ensure universal background checks, and keep guns out of the hands of those that should not have them.

I stand ready with my fellow task force members to do the work to protect our kids, schools, families, and communities across the country. It is time our Republican colleagues join us.

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