Donald M. Payne: “While we mourn those lost in these all-too- frequent mass shootings, it is important to remember, while some cities…”

“While we mourn those lost in these all-too- frequent mass shootings, it is important to remember, while some cities suffer these tragedies occasionally, others suffer them daily. Every year, dozens of my neighbors are victims of shootings across my city. We need to stop looking at guns as simply a Second Amendment issue and address them as a national health and security crisis. Our people are dying, and we have the power to stop it. We have already taken similar actions in other industries when lives are threatened or lost. Automobiles are a safety risk, so we pushed for seatbelts and airbags. Smoking is a health risk, so we banned advertisement and vending machines to protect our children. That is why I am proud to support stricter background checks before a gun purchase and a ban on high-capacity magazines, which should only be available to trained American soldiers. But we must do more. Like me, many Members return to districts where gun violence is all too common and where it is rare to find a family that has not lost a member to this national menace. ____________________”