Schakowsky Floor Remarks On the Need For A Vote On Gun Safety Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) spoke on the House floor about the need for Speaker Ryan to allow a vote on gun safety legislation before the House goes on break. The text of the full remarks is below as well as a link to the video.

Over last Father's Day weekend, 13 people were killed with guns in Chicago, my hometown. Another 46 were injured, and one of those critically injured was 3-year-old Devon Quinn. Devon and his father were sitting in their green van when someone pulled up and started firing shots into a crowd of people. Devon was hit in the right shoulder by a bullet as he sat in his car. He was not the target. And he was another innocent victim in the terrible year of gun violence.

A 17-year-old boy was walking down 46th street and he was mowed down by an assault weapon. According to the Chicago Tribune, about 1,800 people have been shot in Chicago this year. Over 200 of them have died from guns. When shooting becomes so commonplace we risk forgetting how traumatic each one is for the people involved.

I recently received a letter from Kiara, a high school senior, she wrote:

“Talking on the phone a few nights ago I heard the disturbing noise of gunshots. Feelings of fear overwhelmed me as my friend was talking and walking home from the train station from work. Almost immediately communication broke. I called back over and over again with no response I was on the verge of a meltdown thinking of what could have happened to him after what seemed like the longest 10 minutes of my life I received a text letting me know that he was ok but needed to call 9-1-1 as someone had been shot by a drive by shooting. I sat there frozen, what could I do? Thoughts of hopelessness and sadness took hold over me and I thought about the family of this poor innocent person who was just shot and how terrible that phone call must have been from the hospital. I understand the need for guns and the role they play in protection in times of war and so on, but what I don't understand is the internal debate and menace within the United States over the use and misuse of weapons.”

Too often we forget the names of victims and the pain of their loved ones as Congress continues to do nothing to stop the violence. Most don't even get that empty gesture of a moment of silence.

Even so, we have done 27 moments of silence since sandy hook. How numb have we become to everyday violence and only stop for that lone minute to recognize the most horrific shootings. 49 victims in Orlando. School children in Newtown. Churchgoers murdered in Charleston. Just during the Senate filibuster on gun violence last week, 48 people were shot. As the mass shootings get worse and worse, we can't let these daily shootings fade into the background of America. I know that my constituents feel frustrated and ignored when Congress responds to each of these tragedies with inaction.

Angela wrote to me from the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago where I grew up,

“I am writing to you as a frustrated and saddened constituent who's tired of watching innocent people die because the NRA holds our Congress people hostage. I'm begging you on behalf of our students, teachers, police, LGBT, and every person who has been affected by gun violence to please use this moment to enact meaningful gun control in our country. We have had decades of complacency from our government on this issue. It's no longer excusable, particularly for someone representing Chicago. You know where these legally purchased guns end up, and that hundreds of our children and families pay the price for what selfish maniacs claim is their personal freedom.”

And I have many more letters like those calling on those of us in Congress to do our job and reduce gun violence in our country. Neighbors ask me for action at the grocery store and at the gym and as I boarded the plane yesterday. We can start by enacting two gun safety proposals that are overwhelmingly supported among our constituents. All of our constituents.

Close the terrorist loophole. If you're too dangerous to fly on an airplane, you should not be able to buy a gun. People can't even believe that isn't the law already. We need universal background checks. 40% of those guns used in violence in Chicago are bought legally at Indiana gun shows where there are no background checks. These proposals won't stop every single gun death. But we know that they will stop some. Yes, there are a lot of other things we could do, too. I call on Speaker Ryan, along with my colleagues, to bring these bills to the floor. Before we break, Americans are calling for action on gun violence. They are tired of being ignored. No bill, no break.

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