In this handout provided by the Santa Monica Police Department, shows a suspected mass shooting gunman entering the Santa Monica College library during his rampage on June 7, 2013 in Santa Monica, California.
(Photo courtesy: Santa Monica Police Department).
On September 20, 2013 Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for one minute regarding the problem of mass shootings in America and the need for background checks of prospective gun purchasers.
“Madam Speaker, tragedy happens, and we say we are shocked. “This is a quiet neighborhood.” “This is a quiet town.” “This is a quiet city.” When you examine the mass shootings in America over the last decade, it becomes abundantly clear that there are serious cultural and spiritual problems that have not been recognized. Any attempt to be reasonable, thoughtful, earnest in facing the recognized horror is, even in the Congress of the United States, met with downright skepticism or outright hate.”
“I wonder if we want to resolve this unique national paralysis. Somewhere between taking everyone’s guns away and maintaining the status quo, we must find some workable answer. Do Senators and House Members have to be directly threatened before we agree to work together? One of our own has been shot down in her own district. We all said all the appropriate things and didn’t do anything to prevent this kind of violence from happening again”, he said.
“It would seem to me, Madam Speaker, to be very desirable to review the biography, at least, of any person who applies to own a gun. Oversight of the process could be left to citizens representing the entire gun issue. We won’t accept these violent acts in America any longer”, said Rep. Pascrell (source: Congressional record http://thomas.loc.gov).
Congressman Bill Pascrell serves on the following committees:
Committee on Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Health
Committee on the Budget