Fourth Anniversary of the Tops Supermarket Shooting in Buffalo, New York
Floor Speech
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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Kennedy so much for gathering us.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I rise today to remember the 10 lives stolen, the 3 people injured, and the survivors of the hateful mass shooting in Buffalo 4 years ago.
I remember their lives, but I also urge Congress to actually do something meaningful to honor them and all survivors of gun violence. Congress passed the first Federal gun safety law in nearly 30 years, but the American people cannot wait another 30 years.
There are pieces of legislation waiting to be passed and programs that are waiting for funding that have already been approved. Over 110 Americans are dying every single day. Instead, the Trump administration has only exacerbated this public health crisis and fanned the flames of racist rhetoric and violence.
We have witnessed hateful rhetoric turn into hate crimes for far too long. We must condemn racism, full stop. Moments of silence are not enough. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. The victims and survivors of the shooting in Buffalo and across the country deserve better from Congress. They deserve action.
We need universal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage, assault weapons ban, community violence intervention funding, and better support for survivors. The gun lobby responsible for putting profits over people's safety must be held accountable.
I have asked for about 13 years now in Congress just who or how many have to be maimed or die before we take action. It is not first graders. It is not people worshipping in their church. It is not a young lady playing in the park. It is not a young man coming out of choir practice. It is not a young man riding on the CTA bus. It is not even Members of Congress that have moved us, but I will not stop fighting until everyone, no matter where they live, the color of their skin, who they love, or even how they vote, we all need to live free from gun violence.
Mr. KENNEDY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kelly for her remarks.
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