Barbara Boxer: “But I have to say that, as my friend explained the needs of our communities to be closer and the needs of our children…”

“But I have to say that, as my friend explained the needs of our communities to be closer and the needs of our children to be paid attention to and to be taught respect and accountability and love, he is very right. But I might say to my friend that every day in this country 12 children are cut down by gunfire. Most of them come from families who love them, come from families who respect them, come from families who have taught them the values of love and community and country. So I say to my friend from Wyoming, who told some very tender stories about how good most of the youth are in this country--and I agree with him--a lot of those wonderful young people are being shot in schools and in churches. There seems to be no limit today on what can happen. So he can speak about the need to be close with our families. He is exactly right. Most of us are. But for those who are alienated, who don't have that love, why should the rest of the children pay the price and fear for their lives? In some of our communities, if you ask those children, I say to my friend, the sad reality, for whatever reason, is that they are afraid. Many of them know someone who has been cut down by gunfire.”