Political Quotes

“I rise today to urge my colleagues to defeat a Congressional Review Act resolution that would weaken the FBI's gun background check system and make it easier for individuals with severe mental illness to buy guns. Gun violence is an epidemic in our communities--killing more than 30,000 people each year; yet this resolution would prevent the. Federal Government from taking even the most basic steps to improve enforcement of current gun laws. It blocks a rule that requires the Social Security Administration to report to the FBI background check system individuals who have a severe mental illness that prevents them from managing their own affairs. This determination is made during the application process for Social Security disability benefits. This policy could have prevented tragedies like that of Janet Delana and her daughter Colby. Colby was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 201l. She received Social Security disability payments as a result of her mental illness and lived with her parents in Missouri. A year after her diagnosis, Colby used the money from her disability check to buy a gun at a local dealer. Her mom called the dealer and begged him not to make the sale. Janet explained that her daughter was mentally ill and suicidal and that she would likely use the gun to harm herself or others. Nonetheless, Colby passed her background check and bought the gun. Just an hour later, Colby shot her father to death and tried to kill herself.…”