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Extensions of Remarks E256 HON. SHEILA JACKSON

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Extensions of Remarks E256 HON. SHEILA JACKSON E256 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 5, 2018 was raised by her mother, Dorothy Clark, who WHY WE CAN WAIT NO LONGER logically advanced weaponry is far more dan- worked to support her and instilled in her a AND THE FIERCE URGENCY TO gerous to public safety than ever before. love of music. Starting with classical piano les- ENACT NOW RESPONSIBLE GUN At no point in our nation’s history has a sin- sons, Elaine grew as a songwriter and eventu- VIOLENCE PREVENTION LEGIS- gle human been more capable of inflicting ally moved to Los Angeles to pursue music as LATION AFTER PARKLAND, massive death and misery, and our society is a career. FLORIDA MASS SHOOTING producing more individuals who seek to em- ploy such means to carry out their ill inten- In LA, she engaged with the civil rights tions. movement, and after the assassination of Mar- HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE Far too often, the tool of choice for would- tin Luther King, Jr., Brown was motivated to OF TEXAS be killers are military-style assault weapons join the Black Panther Party. As a party mem- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with high-capacity magazines. ber, she helped establish the groundbreaking Monday, March 5, 2018 Every day, on average, 92 Americans are Free Breakfast for Children Program, Free Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise victims of gun violence, resulting in more than Busing to Prisons Program, and Free Legal today to call upon the President and the Con- 33,000 deaths annually. Aid Program. gress of the United States to act without delay In raising this issue, we recognize and re- In 1968, Brown was commissioned by David and pass legislation to prevent gun violence spect other cultures that exist in America; law- Hilliard, the Party Chief of Staff, to record the and mass casualties from shootings. abiding citizens who are responsible in their album ‘‘Seize the Time,’’ which includes the The community of Parkland, Florida—along ownership of firearms. anthem of the Black Panther Party. The Par- with the rest of the country—is still reeling Many of these citizens are responsible with ty’s co-founder, Huey P. Newton, later com- from the horrific tragedy that took place at the respect to the lethal capacity of their firearms, missioned her to record a second album, Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High School on opting not to obtain assault weapons or to ‘‘Until We’re Free’’, to promote the party’s Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018. equip assault weapons with 30, 50, 75, or message, ‘‘All Power to the People.’’ Our hearts still ache with sadness and dis- 100-round magazines. belief for the families and loved ones of the 17 In August of 1974, Elaine Brown took over Here is what I think the Congress can and students—sons and daughters, brothers and must do to reduce gun violence without as the chair of the Black Panther Party—the sisters—who lost their lives in this senseless, abridging the Second Amendment rights of first and only woman to lead the revolutionary horrific act of domestic terrorism. law-abiding Americans. organization. Under her leadership, the party It is safe to say that America is sick and Extend the waiting period to purchase or focused on electoral politics and community tired of being sick and tired of gun violence. transfer dangerous weapons like the AR–15 service. In 1977, she managed Lionel Wilson’s That is why we must act now to stop gun vi- pending completion of background checks to 7 victorious campaign to become Oakland’s first olence, protect citizens, and save lives. days. black mayor. That same year, I was proud to Here are the top 6 actions the President That is why I have introduced H.R. 4268, work on her trailblazing campaign for the Oak- and the Congress can and must take now to the ‘‘Gun Safety, Not Sorry Act.’’ land City Council. protect our communities: Raise the minimum age to purchase or After leaving the party in 1977, she wrote Require universal background checks to transfer dangerous weapons like the AR–15, her memoir ‘‘A Taste of Power: A Black Wom- keep guns out of dangerous hands; high-capacity magazines, ammunitions, and si- Extend the waiting period to purchase or an’s Story’’ in 1982 and returned to her work lencers from 18 to 21 years of age. transfer dangerous weapons like the AR–15 on the struggle of black liberation and prison That is why I have introduced H.R. 5088, pending completion of background checks to 7 reform. In 1996, Brown moved to Atlanta, the ‘‘No Mass Atrocities with Guns Act’’ (‘No days; MAGA Act’). Georgia, and founded Fields of Flowers, Inc., Raise the minimum age to purchase or Reinstate and strengthen the federal ban on a non-profit committed to providing edu- transfer dangerous weapons like the AR–15, assault weapons. cational opportunities for impoverished African high-capacity magazines, ammunitions, and si- I am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 3947, American children. lencers from 18 to 21 years of age; legislation that will reinstates the assault Elaine also founded Mothers Advocating Ju- Ban military-style assault weapons; weapons ban that has been introduced by my venile Justice and the Michael Lewis Legal Limit high-capacity magazines; and colleague, Congressman DAVID CICILLINE of Defense Committee, where she spent nearly Increase access to mental health services. Rhode Island. two decades supporting the legal appeal of We can take action without infringing on the Reinstate a federal ban on bump stocks and Michael ‘‘Little B’’ Lewis, who was wrongly ac- 2nd Amendment rights of Americans. high-capacity magazines holding more than cused of murder and tried as an adult at 13. We need to make it harder for criminals to ten rounds and allowing a shooter to inflict Elaine wrote The Condemnation of Little B, obtain guns by strengthening the background check system. mass damage in a short period of time without exposing racism that affects millions of poor reloading will save lives. African Americans and the barbarity of trying We need to ensure that mental health pro- fessionals know their options for reporting I will soon be introducing the ‘‘Stop Abuse, children as adults. In 2003, Brown co-founded threats of violence—even as we acknowledge Violence, and Ending Lives Act of 2018,’’ leg- the National Alliance for Radical Prison Re- that someone with a mental illness is far more islation to ban the sale and possession of form and has continued her advocacy by fre- likely to be the victim of a violent crime than bump stocks. quently lecturing at colleges and universities the perpetrator. Require a background check for every gun throughout the country. We must also make safe gun storage a pri- sale, while respecting reasonable exceptions Elaine continues to co-author many books ority. for cases such as gifts between family mem- and serves in leadership roles for various As the founder and Co-Chair of the Con- bers and temporary loans for sporting pur- committees, and is the CEO of a non-profit or- gressional Children’s Caucus, a senior Mem- poses. ganization, Oakland & The World Enterprises, ber of the Judiciary Committee, and the Rank- I am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 4240, Inc. which is dedicated to launching and sus- ing Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the ‘‘Public Safety and Second Amendment taining for-profit businesses for cooperative- Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, I Rights Protection Act of 2017,’’ legislation that ownership by the formerly incarcerated and have listened far too often to the testimony of requires universal background checks and those facing monumental social barriers. individuals who have survived tragedies or lost closes the gun show loophole that has been introduced by my colleague, Congressman On a personal note, Elaine has been a loved ones as a result of gun violence. In the words of President Obama after the MIKE THOMPSON of California. ‘‘comrade’’ and friend since the early 1970’s, 2013 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, It is estimated that four out of ten gun buy- whose friendship, intellect, and life’s work I ‘‘We’re going to have to come together and ers do not go through a background check deeply appreciate and admire. take meaningful action to prevent more trage- when purchasing a firearm because federal Today, on behalf of California’s 13th Con- dies like this, regardless of the politics.’’ law only requires these checks when someone gressional District, it is my honor to celebrate While it is certainly true that violent crime buys a gun from a federally licensed dealer. Elaine Brown and her accomplishments, advo- and homicide rates in this country have been That would be like allowing four out of ten cacy and contributions for the underrep- declining in recent years, they are still far people to choose if they would like to go resented. Her work toward the empowerment above those in other industrialized nations. through airport security. of women and minorities, especially African There exists a culture of violence in Amer- This loophole allows felons, domestic abus- Americans, is a true inspiration to many. ica; a subculture that with today’s techno- ers, and those prohibited because of mental VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:19 Mar 06, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A05MR8.013 E05MRPT1 March 5, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E257 illness to easily bypass the criminal back- Congress should fund scientific research on receiving the Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet ground check system and buy firearms at gun the relationship between popular culture and honor, the Spaatz Award and the rank of shows, through private sellers, over the inter- gun violence, while ensuring that parents have cadet colonel.
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