Nita Lowey: “this is a sad, sad day for the American people. Because as the first anniversary of the Columbine massacre approaches…”

“this is a sad, sad day for the American people. Because as the first anniversary of the Columbine massacre approaches, we in Congress have done nothing. We have done nothing to close the gun show loophole. We have done nothing to keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals. And we have done nothing to support our state and federal governments as they enforce existing gun safety laws designed to keep our streets and schools safe. And I'm sorry to say, that today's offering from our Republican leadership is more of the same--nothing. This bill, jammed down our throats with no opportunity for serious debate or amendment, will not fund 500 new ATF agents, it will not fund 1,000 federal, state, and local gun prosecutors, and it will not fund ballistics testing and smart gun research. The ENFORCE bill, which I have cosponsored and which we have not been allowed to debate today, will. And while this bill thankfully will not reverse existing gun safety or enforcement measures--it is merely a drop in the bucket compared to what the American people deserve from Congress. We have been waiting for nearly a year, as the Republican leadership has delayed and procrastinated in doing anything about the problem of gun violence in our society. And, at long last, this is what they offer the American people? They should be ashamed.”