Autumn Johnson Killed By Gun Violence

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, on the evening of February 9, this little precious angel, 1-year-old Autumn Johnson, was in her crib when a gunman approached her family's Compton home and opened fire on the converted garage where they lived.

Autumn was struck by a single bullet to her head. Two sheriff's deputies on the scene didn't think they could wait for the paramedics and rushed little Autumn in her father's arms to the hospital in their squad car. She was declared dead at the hospital.

Yesterday sheriffs arrested her suspected killer. The motive is still unknown, but law enforcement suspects gang involvement. I hope that justice is served, but I know that nothing can make up for what Autumn's parents have lost.

I attended her funeral on Saturday, and my heart broke into a million pieces when I saw Autumn in her little lavender casket. Before she was buried, her young father put her pink teddy bear in beside her.

When is the breaking point? When will we decide that our communities have seen enough bloodshed? When will we get serious about investing in our young people and giving them better opportunities than gangs? When will we in Congress finally do our part to prevent gun violence?

Autumn's life mattered, and it is time we started acting like it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source