On the recordJune 14, 2021
I rise as a fellow Texan to offer my deepest sympathy to my fellow congressional colleagues in the Austin area, to the local officials, and to all of those who suffered the brutality of the mass shooting in the last couple of days--14--and my deepest sympathy to the family of the deceased loved one, who mourns today. Out of respect for his family, I will just simply say we mourn him, and we are saddened by his loss. Madam Speaker, in Texas, the Governor just signed a permitless gun bill. All statistics suggest that this provides for a shopping spree of guns. It is important for three things to happen for our Nation to raise its voices against gun violence and to begin to pass sensible gun safety laws, including my legislation for gun storage, universal background checks, closing the Charleston loophole, to prevent ghost guns, and banning assault weapons. At the same time, we must raise up the specter of mental health services. But most of all, as I chair the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, we must raise our voice against violence and actually deal with it and try to cease it. I believe America must do this. ____________________
