On the recordMarch 13, 2013
I thank you for yielding, and most of all I thank you for your leadership in the firearms task force, the prevention of gun violence. You've done a tremendous job in bringing diverse views into focus to respond appropriately to the children who were murdered senselessly in Newtown, Connecticut. They were young people, babies, whose bodies were riddled with bullets. I think finally we have concluded that we have to do something in response to the murders. One of the things we have to do is reduce violence generally--and violence prevention. This week I'll be introducing the Youth PROMISE Act, which has a proactive approach to make sure that young people get on the right track and stay on the right track. We have to deal, as you have indicated, with the mental health challenges. Those with mental health challenges have to get services, because if they're allowed to roam the streets with untreated mental health problems, you have a lot of difficulties. There have to be some firearm-specific situations, such as an assault weapons ban, limiting the size of magazines, background checks, but also straw purchases, people who buy firearms for others knowing they could not buy them for themselves. Violating the law and circumventing the good background check processes we have has to be dealt with. So I thank you for your leadership. I thank you for all that you have done. We have a lot that we can do in response to Newtown, and we expect to do it.
