Gun Violence

Floor Speech

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Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, since 1970, more Americans have died from domestic gun violence than in every war since the American Revolution. If all of the victims of gun violence since 1970 were put on a wall, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, it would contain 1.5 million names and stretch 2\1/2\ miles. That is 25 times as long as the actual Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Congress is quick to offer moments of silence for some mass shootings, ignore most of them, and then proceed to do nothing else, except remain silent.

Each month that we are in session, I will read the names of every person killed in a mass shooting during the previous month. I have also created my own memorial wall in the hallway outside of my office.

Here are the stories of the victims killed in the 41 mass shootings in April of this year. There have been so many people this month affected by mass shootings that I don't have time to list the injured, just those who were killed. Here are those who were killed:

Anpha Nguyen, 31, and Jerry Nguyen, 24, were killed inside a restaurant owned by their uncle on April 1 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jaime Wilson, 24, and Keiwuan Murray, 18, were killed on April 5 in St. Augustine, Florida. Jamie was holding her 2-month-old baby at the time.

Davon Jones, 17, was killed on April 14 in Orange, New Jersey.

Gino Nicolas, 24, and Tanya Monique Skeen, 46, were killed outside a house on April 16 in Orlando, Florida. Gino was the leader of the Orlando chapter of My Brother's Keeper, where he mentored at-risk youth.

An unidentified 27-year-old man was killed on a sidewalk on April 16 in Detroit, Michigan.

Edwin Laboy, 46, an unidentified man, and an unidentified woman, were killed on April 17 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jaxmany Jazan Montes, 29, was killed inside a nightclub on April 17 in Edinburg, Texas. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Delhaun Jackson, 19, was killed in broad daylight on April 18 in Long Beach, California. Delhaun had a 1-year-old child, shown in this picture, and he was looking forward to his very first Father's Day.

Damond Dawson, 23, was killed while filming a music video in a park on April 19 in Chicago, Illinois.

Natalie Srinivasan, 35, and her children, Siena, 5, and MJ, 2, were killed by their husband and father on April 19 in Katy, Texas.

Jason Napoles, 18, was killed in a parked car with his friends on April 19 in Chicago, Illinois.

Eight family members were killed on April 22 in Piketon, Ohio. They were Christopher Rhoden, 40; his ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37; their three children, Clarence Rhoden, 20; Hanna Rhoden, 19; and Chris Rhoden, Jr., 16. Also killed were Chris Sr.'s brother, Kenneth Rhoden, 44; their cousin, Gary Rhoden, 38; and Clarence's fiance, Hannah Gilley, 20.

Rheba Mae Dent, 85; Roosevelt Burns, 75; Keila Clark, 31; Shelly Williams, 62; and Lizzy Williams, 59, were killed on April 22 in Appling, Georgia. They were killed after the shooter's wife asked for a divorce.

Recco Cobb, 43; Jadarrion Spinks, 25; and Roderick Nelms, 32, were killed at a home on April 23 in Auburn, Alabama.

Angelo Barboza, 15, was killed on April 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Moments before, he had texted his mother saying he loved her and would see her soon.

Davon Barrett, 38, and Devin Hamb, 27, were killed on April 24, in Chicago. They were at a memorial service for Davon's brother, who died from gun violence in 2009.

Carolyn Ann Sanders, 59, her daughter, Marquita Hill, 32, and Kenneth Cornelious Loggins, 32, were killed by Marquita's ex on April 27 in Montgomery County, Mississippi.

Joanne Woods, 49, was killed on April 27 in Forestville, Maryland.

Leco Cole, 38, was killed in a house on April 27 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Members, these were lives taken unnecessarily. May the dead rest in peace, the wounded recover quickly and completely, and the bereaved find comfort.

I urge my colleagues to stop being silent, and let's do something to stop the rampage.

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