Why Can't the U.S. Treat Gun Violence as a Public-Health Problem?

I am grateful to Congressman Mike Thompson and this Committee for prioritizing H.R. 8, the bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019.

It is imperative that we do all that we can to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.

The only thing standing in the way is the lack of political will.

The truth is there are a whole set of bills that if we pass, will substantially reduce gun violence in this country.

This is the first hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives on gun violence prevention in nearly a decade.

Based on similar gun control measures in states like California, H.R. 8 would not deter a criminal from engaging in criminal activity, and it won't decrease gun crime.

The new gun control restrictions currently being considered by the Democratic majority in H.R. 8 would not have prevented my shooting.

Let me just remind this Committee of what I believe was a missed opportunity back in 1990.

If only one life is saved, that is enough for me. It darned well ought to be enough for every single Member of this Congress.

America's unique gun Violence problem, explained in 17 maps and charts.

The Constitution declares that gun ownership is not a privilege that is just for a select, reserve few.

The American people are completely fed up with this institution's willful neglect in leaving them to suffer in the face of a clear epidemic.

More gun bans are not going to solve this problem.

We must invest in our collective future.

So, for those who would have you believe, oh, that the bad guys are never going to try to go buy a gun, nonsense. Utter nonsense.

I urge this Congress to take up and pass such a bill.

Instead, whether intentionally or not, the gun control proposals in H.R. 8 could turn law abiding citizens into criminals while also failing to achieve the stated purpose of reducing gun violence.