Mark Takano: “I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the American people may be wondering why my…”

“I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the American people may be wondering why my colleagues and I are focusing on gun violence today and not on this financial services appropriations bill which, I should add, is loaded with poison pill riders. The reason is simple. We refuse to continue treating gun violence as business as usual in America. Forty-nine were killed in Orlando. We took a moment of silence, then it was business as usual. Fourteen were killed in San Bernardino. We took a moment of silence, then it was business as usual. Nine were killed in Roseburg. We took a moment of silence, then it was business as usual. Nine more were killed in Charleston. We took a moment of silence, then it was business as usual. Thirty-three thousand were killed by gun violence last year. We took a moment of silence, then it was business as usual. I cannot, in good conscience, debate a rule on an appropriations bill when so many of our communities continue to suffer from gun violence every day. I hear my Republican colleagues say this is our democracy at work, but a Congress that rejects two gun violence prevention bills that are supported by 90 percent of Americans is not democracy at work. I hear my Republican colleagues say we don't have the votes. Then prove it. Bring these bills to the floor. I am betting they pass. Every day that goes by, these firearms become more powerful and our failure to act becomes more reckless.…”