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National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Floor Speech

Date: June 2, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Guns Veterans Criminal Justice

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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I am wearing orange in recognition of the first annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Orange is the safety color hunters wear to alert others of their presence, and this is the perfect color to represent safety with respect to firearms and the value of human life.

Last week, as we honored our troops and celebrated Memorial Day weekend, a wave of gun violence ripped through the city of Chicago, wounding more than 50 people and killing 12. Among the victims were a 17-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl, and a 4-year-old child.

Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to act now. We can't equip every American with an orange hunting vest, but we can surely take sensible approaches to reduce the threat of gun violence in our communities.

This Congress, I have introduced H.R. 224, which would require the Surgeon General to compile a report on the public health impact of gun violence. This commonsense gun bill can help us understand the public health impact of gun violence and prevent future shootings.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with me and support commonsense legislation to curb the violence that plagues our Nation. And I want to say happy birthday, Hadiya, and happy birthday, Blair Holt.

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