Calling for Substantive Action on Shootings

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I have some comments that were drafted before today's events.

Last month, in Minnesota, a gunman opened fire on Catholic schoolchildren praying. Again, thoughts and prayers are offered, but what do we say and what do we do when the victims were already praying?

This cannot be our only response. We need substantive action.

As Westchester County executive, we acted early to ban gun shows from county-owned buildings. It was a small but meaningful sign that we were serious about keeping guns out of our communities.

Now, Congress must show that same seriousness. We need universal background checks. We need weapons of war off our streets. We need strong red flag laws to keep guns away from abusers.

State laws are not enough. Guns can easily be trafficked across State lines.

Thoughts and prayers didn't save children at Sandy Hook, Uvalde, or in that Minnesota church. They won't save the next victims unless we act. We have to keep weapons of mass death out of the hands of those who would use them to kill innocent people.

In the last few hours, we have one more example, the murder of Charlie Kirk. Any person, regardless of their politics, should be able to express their ideas without violence.

Commonsense gun laws save lives, Mr. Speaker, and we must pass them now.

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