Mark Takano: “I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. In its current…”

“I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. In its current form, H.R. 1181 would endanger veterans in crisis and serve as another obstacle to addressing the crisis of veteran suicide. We had hoped to introduce amendments which would protect veterans' rights while ensuring their safety. By bringing this bill to the floor under a closed rule, the majority has prevented us from doing so, from considering other possibilities to come together in a bipartisan fashion. There are changes that could be made to this legislation to ensure that it is good public policy. For instance, we could consider a streamlined appeals process that would allow veterans erroneously flagged by the background check system to have their status changed. I do acknowledge the concern of the gentleman from Florida that people with PTSD on this list may have been inappropriately flagged to be on this list, and we could have discussed a streamlined process. We could conduct a study of the VA's existing practices for submitting records of veterans to the background check system. But rather than subject that whole list to being dismantled and freeing people that should not be free to have weapons--crazy people from having weapons--at the very least, we should understand the impact this change would have on veteran suicide, as Ms.…”