H4196 — HOUSE July 5, 2016 What we saw was the mob law of Oc- orderly process of government and it people demand that we do more, that cupy Wall Street brought to the House cannot go unchallenged. Doing so we do something, that we do anything . They are seeking to use the re- would establish a dangerous and corro- to help prevent another mass tragedy cent terrorist attacks as justification sive precedent, antithetical to every- in this country. Make no mistake, this for making it harder for law-abiding thing which this institution and our legislation falls short of a good-faith Americans to defend themselves. That country stands for. effort to save lives. is a strange logic, but so be it. They The Constitution provides that the The GAO found that individuals on certainly have a right to their opin- House may sanction Members for dis- the terrorist watch list were able to ions. They have a right to express orderly behavior, and the Members re- pass a background check and legally those opinions on the House floor, and sponsible for the events of June 22 and purchase a firearm 2,043 times between they have a right to use all of the pro- 23 must be called to account for their February of 2004 and December of 2014. cedures of the House to act on their actions. If we fail to do so, we will have The FBI was only able to prevent 10 opinions. What they do not have is the replaced the House rules with rules for percent of these purchases. right to prevent those with different radicals. As we all, unfortunately, learned on views from exercising the same rights, f June 12, when we fail to prevent dan- and yet that is precisely what they did. gerous individuals from getting their These Democratic Members have GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION hands on guns, we put the lives of many procedures and opportunities to The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Americans at risk. But there is legisla- bring their bills to the House for a Chair recognizes the gentleman from tion that the House can consider that vote. They could have executed a dis- Rhode Island (Mr. CICILLINE) for 5 min- will reduce gun violence. charge petition to bring their bill im- utes. First, H.R. 1076, the no fly, no buy mediately to the floor. They could have Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, a little bill, would effectively close the terror moved to have their bill inserted into over a week and a half ago, my col- gap by providing the Department of any bill pending on the House floor, a leagues and I came to the House floor. Justice with the discretion to block common motion that we routinely hear We came to the floor to protest the in- gun sales to terrorist suspects. It will and vote upon several times a week. action of this Republican Congress, the preserve due process for individuals The fact is their proposals were con- tyranny of the majority, to act on gun who were mistakenly listed to appeal sidered in the Senate and voted down. violence prevention measures—their their denial. Their proposals were considered in the deliberate inaction in the face of 33,000 Second, H.R. 1217 would implement House and voted down. deaths caused by gun violence every universal background checks for all Their discharge petition is pending at year. We came to demand substantive commercial gun sales. It is a measure this desk right now, awaiting enough action to address our country’s epi- supported by the overwhelming major- signatures to execute it. Their only demic of gun violence. ity of the American people. And empir- problem is they don’t have enough Yet, today we will be presented with ical research shows that universal votes. Well, sorry, that is called democ- legislation promoted by the NRA that background checks for all handgun racy. The majority of their colleagues fails to address this serious problem. sales have lowered levels of gun vio- simply disagree with them for some H.R. 4237 does not close or otherwise lence in those States where that oc- very good reasons. address the terror gap that allows curs. Nationally, 34 percent of gun Their rights were honored and pro- known or suspected terrorists in the sales and 40 percent of all gun transfers tected by the Republican majority to legally buy guns. occur without a background check. under the rule of law, yet they denied Instead, this bill handicaps law en- b 1215 those same rights to others by replac- forcement, creating an impossibly bur- This legislation would represent an ing the rule of law with the rule of the densome process and allowing terror- important step toward closing this mob; and they did so on the most sa- ists to take advantage of the Charles- ton loophole. In fact, H.R. 4237 doesn’t loophole and reducing gun violence. cred ground of our democratic Repub- I urge my colleagues on the other just leave the loophole open, which led lic, the Hall of the House of Represent- side of the aisle to bring these two bills to the loss of nine lives at the Emanuel atives. to the floor, to respond to the demands AME Church, it reinforces it and the Instead of working within the time- of the American people, to do some- terror gap. honored rules of the House to convince thing about the pandemic of gun vio- Under this legislation, to prevent the the majority of their way of thinking, lence, to do something meaningful that transfer of a firearm, the government they decided to tear down the rules. will actually reduce gun violence in will be required to file an emergency This was the lawless left on full dis- this country and protect the American petition, schedule a hearing, provide play, and I hope the American people people, as we are sworn to do. took a long, hard look at it and under- the suspect with notice and counsel, I know I speak for all of my col- stand the threat to our democratic tra- and win the hearing all within 72 hours leagues in the Democratic Caucus. We ditions and institutions that this con- of the attempted purchase. And even if will continue to fight in every way duct reveals. the government is able to win the hear- that we can until we can persuade our In recent days, we have seen leftist ing, it can only prevent the transfer if Republican colleagues to bring these mobs assembled under a foreign flag the court finds that the suspected ter- bills to the floor, to do something violently attacking American citizens rorist committed, attempted to, or will about the carnage of mass gun violence who were merely trying to exercise commit an act of terrorism. Put an- in this country. their right to peaceably assemble to other way, the government can only support their candidate for President. prevent a gun sale to a suspected ter- f We have seen this administration at- rorist if they can arrest the person for AMERICANS WANT CONGRESS TO tempt to criminalize political dissent terrorist activity within 3 days of an PASS MEANINGFUL GUN LEGIS- and use our institutions of government attempted purchase. LATION to intimidate people out of partici- Ultimately, this legislation does not The SPEAKER pro tempore. The pating in our political process. And provide any meaningful safeguards to Chair recognizes the gentleman from now we have watched this lawless be- prevent terrorists from purchasing California (Mr. THOMPSON) for 5 min- havior imported onto the floor of the guns. Sadly, it is nothing more than a utes. House of Representatives. political tactic to avoid responsibility, Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. The House leadership decided not to a contrived effort to look busy and Speaker, Americans want Congress to confront this unprecedented spectacle feign concern while thousands of Amer- pass meaningful legislation that will as it unfolded, and I do not gainsay icans lose their lives to gun violence. actually keep guns out of dangerous their decision here. It was obvious the The American people are smarter than hands. Members involved were trying to pro- this. So what is our majority doing? voke a physical confrontation, but seri- We have a moral responsibility to do They are bringing up a bill that was ous damage was done that day to our something meaningful. The American not only drafted by the gun lobby, but

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 Jul 06, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K05JY7.002 H05JYPT1 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE July 5, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4197 that makes it nearly impossible to can bypass the background check by 48 people in America were shot. Forty- block gun sales to suspected terrorists. purchasing guns online, at a gun show, eight people in 15 hours. In Chicago, That is shameful. or through an ad in the paper. This is the last month has seen 79 people lose The American people deserve a Con- a dangerous loophole that needs to be their lives to gun violence. Seventy- gress that is willing to stand up to the closed, and it needs to be closed now. nine lost souls: gun lobby and do what it takes to help The bill has 186 bipartisan coauthors. Fabian Lavinder; Kevin Montell At- keep our communities safe. Congress Bring our bill up for a vote. There is kins, Jr.; Victor Felix; Marshawn has a responsibility to listen to the absolutely no reason why anyone Clinkscale; Kaysar Chako; Joseph people who we are supposed to rep- should oppose this background check Harden; Jamaal Bellamy; Christian resent, to put partisan politics aside, bill. Not only is it bipartisan, it re- Bandemer; Daniel Alcantara; Anthony and to bring up commonsense, bipar- spects the Second Amendment rights of Howard; Darnell Hardeman; William tisan legislation to keep guns away law-abiding citizens. Palmer; Kori O. Sellers; Dontay Mur- from those who shouldn’t have them: I am a gun guy. I own guns. I support ray, Jr.; Donkel Riley; Anreco Nichols; suspected terrorists, criminals, domes- the Second Amendment. If this bill did Sami Salaymeh; Victor Sanders; Lewis tic abusers, and the dangerously men- anything to violate those rights, my Johnson; Lanarris Webster; Dawson tally ill. And the American people name wouldn’t be on it. Stephan; Paul Webster; Terry Bates, want those bills brought up now. All this background check bill does is Jr.; Jeremy Ray; Fatimah Muhammed; More than 30 people are killed every require that folks pass a background Travell Montgomery; Timothy Boyd; day by someone using a gun. We can’t check before purchasing guns online, at Christopher Fields; Javil Nunn; afford to allow more innocent lives to a gun show, or through an ad. Plain Antwon Brooks; Dwayne Triplett; Jor- be lost to gun violence. and simple. It does nothing to infringe dan Liggins; Davion Barron; Adrian Just a few weeks ago, 49 innocent on the Second Amendment right of Watson; Antoine Randle; Steven people were shot to death in the worst law-abiding citizens to own firearms. Edwards; William Sandifer; Antonio This debate on background checks mass shooting our country has ever Perkins; Jeremy Rodgers; Denzel isn’t a choice between either pro- seen. Sadly, this isn’t an insulated Thornton; Angelo Davis; Demetrius Ar- tecting the Second Amendment or re- case. It has now been 31⁄2 years since cher; Marshaun Jackson; Victor Robin- ducing gun violence. It is about the the tragedy at Sandy Hook took the son; Melvin Cook; Charles Wiley; willingness of a responsible majority to lives of 20 elementary school kids and do both. If there is one thing we should Latrell McMahon; Eric Knox; Eric six educators, but for reasons that I all be able to agree on, it is that sus- Smith; Margaret Shanahan; Alejandro will never understand, that horrific pected terrorists, criminals, domestic Rosas; Michael A. Brown; Carlton Hall; tragedy wasn’t enough to convince the abusers, and the dangerously mentally Salvador Suarez; Otis Richmond; Eu- Republican leadership that some- ill shouldn’t have guns. gene Singleton; Ramal Hicks; Amari thing—something—needs to be done to Mr. Speaker, give us a vote. Bring up Catchings; Stanley Boston; Jessica prevent the next tragedy. H.R. 1076: bipartisan, effective, no fly, Hampton; Eric Burgin; Trevell Parker; Let me give you some numbers: no buy legislation. And bring up H.R. Jeremy Clark; Brandon Nolls; Reginald Three and a half, that is how many 1217: bipartisan background check leg- Turner; Trayvon Wilson; Wondale Col- years it has been since Sandy Hook; islation. lier; Selton Ellis; Frederick Johnson; 34,000, that is the number of people who Mass shootings followed by moments Lonnie King; Kentrail McCray; have been killed by someone using a of silence and no action cannot become Alfondia Kelly; Matusalem Gutierrez; gun since Sandy Hook; 1,182, that is the America’s new normal. We need to Darrell Guy, Jr.; Marshawn Hilson; number of mass shootings that have vote, and we need to vote now. Chanda Foreman; Robert Vaughn; Ken- taken place since Sandy Hook; 520, f neth Whitaker; Hector Badillo, Jr.; and that is the number of days the House Willie Pittman. has been in session; 30, the moments of INACTION IS NOT AN OPTION We were led during our sit-in 2 weeks silence that we have observed on this The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ago by an icon, Congressman JOHN House floor because of gun violence. Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from LEWIS, and I was very, very, very proud Most important, zero. Zero. That is Illinois (Ms. KELLY) for 5 minutes. to participate and would do it again. the number of votes that this House Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, He is fond of referencing a dream he has taken to keep guns out of the with over 30 Americans killed by a gun shared with his mentor, a mentor of hands of dangerous people. every single day, for far too long I have many of us, Dr. King, the dream of the What is the majority so afraid of? Is been saying that inaction is not an op- Beloved Community, a place where their fear greater than the fear of those tion. Yet, in my 3-plus years in Con- people of all races, creeds, religions, young kids at Sandy Hook, or those pa- gress, House Republicans have refused and gender identification can live to- rishioners in Charleston, or those to do anything on gun violence. This gether in peace. young people at the nightclub in Or- week’s lackluster, Beltway, big-gun- Certainly there is no place for as- lando? lobby-written bill is the only gun vote sault rifles in the Beloved Community. It is long past time for the House to this Congress has had. There is no place for gun rights for ter- give us a vote on meaningful legisla- Why is it that when our country was rorists in the Beloved Community. tion to make sure that terrorists, facing a horrific opioid epidemic, we There is no place for gun rights for criminals, domestic abusers, and the empowered our local, State, and Fed- criminals and the dangerously men- dangerously mentally ill don’t have eral governments with the resources tally ill in the Beloved Community. In easy access to guns in our country. necessary to combat this issue? And the Beloved Community, no child has There is bipartisan legislation that why is it that when a terrorist boarded to live a life where going to the park would prohibit those on the FBI’s ter- a plane with a bomb in his shoe, we risks them from being mowed down by rorist watch list from being able to passed legislation that makes pas- a stray bullet. purchase firearms, and I have authored sengers remove their shoes when they I will keep fighting and speaking out legislation, which has bipartisan sup- go through airport security? Yet, after until we honor these victims’ lives port, to require background checks for countless mass shootings and daily vio- with action, not with moments of si- all commercial gun sales. Background lence in the streets of Chicago, New- lence. checks are our first line of defense ark, and Baltimore, we do nothing. f when it comes to stopping dangerous Many of us here today are still right- people from getting firearms. They fully discussing the horrible 49 deaths WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION work. Every day more than 170 felons, in Orlando a few weeks ago, but I The SPEAKER pro tempore. The some 50 domestic abusers, and nearly would like to share two other statistics Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 20 fugitives are stopped from buying a with you about gun violence since Or- California (Ms. BASS) for 5 minutes. gun because of background checks. But lando. Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, in the month in 34 States, criminals, domestic abus- During our honorable colleague, Sen- of June, 22 people were murdered by ers, and the dangerously mentally ill ator CHRIS MURPHY’s 15-hour , guns in Los Angeles. The oldest person

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