On the recordJuly 6, 2016
In honor of Cora Wilson, let's stop the violence. I rise today to tell the story of Cora Wilson, a 34- year-old mother from Birmingham, Alabama, who was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in front of her eight children on May 12, 2016. Like many women who suffer from domestic violence, Cora Wilson endured abuse for too long. On a Wednesday night in May of 2016, her abuser ignored the restraining order and showed up at the house, where he killed Ms. Wilson and shot four of her children. I cannot mourn this tragedy with my community without doing all that I can to prevent such events from happening in the future. Congress must act now. The intersection between domestic violence and gun safety is paramount. While I am a supporter of the Second Amendment, the rights protected in the Second Amendment are not immune from government regulation. In fact, Congress has repeatedly failed to pass commonsense gun safety reform. Make no mistake, strengthening the background checks, eliminating gun show loopholes, and preventing potential terrorists will not limit the rights of lawful gun owners to protect and defend themselves. The rising tide of gun violence in our communities must stop. In memory of Cora Wilson and the thousands of other domestic violence senseless deaths, let's act now. ____________________
