Gun Violence

Floor Speech

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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because, on a day when schoolchildren should be thinking about baseball tryouts, prom, and college selections, again they head to school living the reality that a gun may strike them down at any moment.

Today 17 children will never again return to their school in Florida, casualties in America's 18th shooting in 44 days. Once again parents and counselors will have to bring the comfort and security that this Congress refuses to offer.

This week in Chicago, a decorated police commander, Paul Bauer, was shot and killed, another officer lost in a disturbing trend of police shootings that we have not addressed either.

Mr. Speaker, Melissa Falkowski, a teacher in that school, asked when Congress will do something. A student said, The country needs to look in the mirror. He said, We cannot get used to this. This cannot become the norm.

Do you remember the terror you felt as grown men on that baseball field?

Well, imagine those young people in that school, in our neighborhoods, at a concert, in a park.

Despite your words, your prayers, you have proven over and over you don't care about anyone but yourselves and your contributions. It is sickening, and shame on you.

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