Gun Violence

Floor Speech

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Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, last Sunday, mass shootings inflicted violence on Elkhart, Indiana, and Fort Myers, Florida. There have been more than 300 mass shootings in the United States this year--more than in any other country in the world.

One of the causes for this gun violence epidemic is that the NICS system, which is the background check system that we rely on to keep our communities safe, is not working.

Over the last few years, shooters in Aurora, Charleston, and at Virginia Tech were all able to buy guns legally despite numerous red flags; and, as of last year, 11 States still were not even providing information to the NICS system. Congress needs to do more to bring them into the system.

Right now, someone who has committed a violent crime could walk into a gun store and put an assault rifle on the counter, and if a background check is not completed within 3 days, there is no prohibition to selling that individual the gun. We need to extend this review period so NICS can thoroughly vet someone before he is able to buy a gun.

These are commonsense solutions, and it is time for Congress to act and put a stop to an epidemic that is taking the lives of thousands of Americans each year.

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