Rising in Support of Background Checks

Floor Speech

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Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, a commonsense bill to mandate background checks before the sale of a firearm.

During my first term in Congress, I served with my friend and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords on the Armed Services Committee. Mr. Speaker, 8 years ago this week, during a public meeting with her constituents, a gunman shot her and 18 others, tragically killing 6.

Since that dark day in 2011, mass shootings have become commonplace, occurring in our schools, houses of worship, movie theaters, nightclubs, grocery stores, a newsroom, a concert, nearly every place imaginable that should be safe.

Although 97 percent of Americans support background checks, many Members of Congress simply pass along thoughts and prayers in the face of these tragedies instead of taking action.

Enough. The Nation's gun violence epidemic must be addressed by the 116th Congress.

I am in awe of Gabby's resilience and advocacy for overdue gun safety reforms like H.R. 8, which will ensure that firearms do not end up in the hands of those who cannot pass a simple background check.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

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