Political Quotes

“Mr. President, our Nation reached an important milestone over the past few years. In 2010, according to a recent report by the Violence Policy Center, motor-vehicle-related fatalities dropped to their lowest level in decades, a 72 percent decrease in deaths per miles traveled from 1966 levels. But not all of the report's findings are encouraging. While our roads have become safer, other aspects of American life have become more dangerous. Over that same period, firearm-related deaths steadily increased around the country. In fact, in 2009, firearm-related fatalities exceeded motor vehicle fatalities in 10 States, and current trends indicate that firearm violence statistics are only getting worse. Congress has the ability to protect lives with commonsense safety legislation, just as it did with motor vehicle safety measures. But it has recently lacked the will. In the 1960s, this Nation confronted a public health crisis on its streets and highways. Over 40,000 people died from motor vehicle crashes in 1960 alone. A 1999 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that from 1960 to 1966 this crash death rate ballooned from 49.2 to 55 deaths per billion miles of travel. In response, Congress took action by creating the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, which it charged with the responsibility of developing and implementing vehicle safety initiatives.…”