Donna Shalala: “This is National Gun Violence Survivors Week, and I rise to recognize the victims and survivors of domestic violence…”

“This is National Gun Violence Survivors Week, and I rise to recognize the victims and survivors of domestic violence across the United States who have felt the effects of our weak gun laws. Just last week in my community in Miami, a man killed his infant son's mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother with a high-powered rifle before abducting the days-old baby. The infant, Andrew, is still missing. Stories like this are not unusual in this country. Women in the United States are 21 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than in other high-income countries. When we don't take action, it is people like Andrew, his mother, his grandmother, and his great-grandmother who pay the price. Andrew deserves to grow up with his family. He deserves leaders who prioritize his well-being over the violent whims of abusers. He deserves a chance at life not tinged with tragedy. ____________________”