Stand Up to Save Lives

Floor Speech

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Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, on Father's Day, 23 people were shot and 1 person was killed at a Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook, Illinois.

Law enforcement has not yet identified a suspect or a motive, but preliminary reports have indicated there were multiple guns and multiple shooters.

In 2 weeks, Highland Park, Illinois, will recognize the 1-year anniversary of its July Fourth parade that killed 7 people and wounded 48 others. In that case, the parade route was lined with armed police officers.

Here is what we know. Having lots of guns around, whether at a parade, a Juneteenth party, a temple, or a school, does not make anyone safer. It just makes it more likely that yet another family is going to get a call to come down and identify yet another bullet-ridden corpse.

Yet, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to walk through this Chamber with AR-15 lapel pins, proudly announcing their service as foot soldiers in the NRA's war on the living.

I don't want a moment of silence. I don't want thoughts. I don't want prayers. They are all far too quiet, and they don't do a damn thing.

Mr. Speaker, I need my colleagues to be brave. I need them to be loud. I need them to stand up and act like saving lives matters.

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