Gun Violence

Floor Speech

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Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, we have common ground on the Republican and Democratic side of the aisle. There is a problem of gun violence. Innocent people--children in Newtown, workers in San Bernardino, worshippers in Charleston, and five very brave police officers in Dallas protecting the right of citizens to protest--all have been killed.

We have got to do something. We know that. We have a disagreement about what. But should we have a disagreement that we not even debate what is the right response as a policy to protect innocent lives from future gun violence? That is the question.

We can debate the Second Amendment. We can protect gun owner rights. But we can't hide from the responsibility that we chose to accept when we ran for office and asked people to entrust us with their vote in this Congress, that we won't even discuss, we won't debate, we won't have a committee hearing, we won't have a bill on the floor. That is what is really unacceptable.

Do you know what? We have a disagreement. Put some bills on the floor. We vote. Our voters then get to hold us accountable one way or the other.

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