Those Pictured Fell to Gun Violence in Chicago and were Remembered by Congresswoman Kelly Wednesday
Washington, D.C.-(ENEWSPF)- Today, Congresswoman Robin Kelly voted in favor of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8). This bipartisan legislation would ensure that a background check is conducted on every gun sale, thus closing loopholes that allow a significant number of guns to be sold without a background check, especially via the Internet and at gun shows. She remembered some of those who fell to gun violence in Chicago in remarks she inserted into the Congressional Record.
“I was proud to stand on the House floor today and vote YES on lifesaving legislation to ensure a background check is conducted on every gun sale. This is simply commonsense and the vast majority of Americans, including gun owners and NRA members, support this legislation,” said Congresswoman Kelly. “Today, House Democrats took a first step toward delivering on our promise to do something, prevent gun violence and save lives. More work remains to ensure that we address this public safety and public health crisis that takes the lives of more than 30,000 Americans each and every year.”
Tomorrow, the House will consider H.R. 1112, legislation to close the Charleston loophole. This loophole allowed the Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church shooter to purchase a gun despite being disqualified from owning a firearm under federal law.
Today’s vote was the first major action on gun violence in nearly a decade. While Congressional Republicans controlled the House, from 2011-2018, they blocked every attempt to hold a debate or vote on this legislation.
With House passage, the legislation moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“I urge my Senate colleagues to immediately take up this important bill. With more than 90 percent of Americans supporting a background on every gun sale, this legislation should have passed Congress years ago,” added Congresswoman Kelly. “The best time to have passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8) was years ago; the second best time to pass it is NOW!”
Congresswoman Kelly served as Speaker Pro Tempore and held the gavel during H.R. 8’s historic passage in the U.S. House of Representatives.
As a tribute, before the vote, she inserted these remarks into the Congressional Record remembering several Chicagoland lives cut short by senseless gun violence:
“Madame Speaker, I rise today for Hadiya Pendleton and Blair Holt – because they can no longer rise. Their promising young lives were cut short by gun violence.
I rise for Xavier Joy, Julien Gonzalez and Delmonte Johnson and the thousands of Americans lost to gun violence over the years.
People are dying in our cities and our rural counties, in school classrooms and movie theatres.
In Waffle Houses, synagogues, and on our streets. Nowhere is safe from gun violence and the American people are sick and tired of it.
That’s why they sent a historic wave of gunsense candidates to Congress with a singular mission: do something and save lives.
Today, we will keep that promise. Today, we will vote on legislation to ensure a background check on every gun sale.
This week, we will also vote on legislation that would have prevented the Mother Emanuel tragedy.
Now, Madame Speaker, we know that no single bill can prevent all gun violence but each of these bills will prevent some. It’s time to act and start saving lives.
To my colleagues, you must do the right thing. You must vote YES on HR 8 and HR 1112, for the sake of our families and our nation.
History will remember this moment.”
