Gun Violence (Cong. Rec., June 24, 2021)
Summary
Page S4759 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for June 24, 2021, under the heading Gun Violence, in interleaved columns. Mr. McConnell criticizes a Justice Department plan on pistol-brace devices as turning millions of law-abiding Americans into criminals, says defunding police efforts have been validated by officials including a council president, and objects to appointments of Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke, which are his views. He also says bipartisan infrastructure negotiators took their results to President Biden. Another speaker supports background checks and criticizes the gun lobby over the confirmation of a director, and a tribute notes the passing of Father Raymond Doherty of Saint Michael's College.
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“Gun Violence (Cong. Rec., June 24, 2021).”
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June 24, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4759
validating the worst instincts of the use of common pistol-brace devices by This morning on the floor, we consid-
anti-police agitators. lawful gun owners. We are talking ered another bill from Senator BRAUN
The president of the Minneapolis about a plan that would turn millions that more than half of our colleagues
City Council called on her colleagues of law-abiding Americans into crimi- actually cosponsored.
to ‘‘imagine a future without police.’’ nals with a stroke of the pen. It would So as we head back to our home
And sure enough, in Los Angeles, po- be an outrageous violation, and we ex- States and take time to celebrate our
lice were told to make do after a cut of pect DOJ to withdraw this attempted Nation’s founding, let’s double down on
$150 million. In Seattle, the police de- confiscation. Federal law enforcement efforts like these and leave designed-
partment budget shrank by nearly 20 should focus on the criminals commit- to-fail partisan antics in June.
percent. Defunding efforts here in ting violent crimes in American cities, f
Washington were passed by committee not on law-abiding gun owners. INFRASTRUCTURE
unanimously. So Republicans will continue to
The Biden administration has ampli- stand for Americans’ Second Amend- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, now
fied these efforts by appointing avowed ment rights, as a matter of public safe- on one final matter, earlier today, a bi-
supporters of defunding the police, like ty and of basic freedoms. partisan group of infrastructure nego-
Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke, to tiators took the results of their efforts
f
high-ranking positions at the Justice down to President Biden. It was an en-
Department, the Agency charged with DEMOCRATIC AGENDA couraging sign of progress after leading
enforcing Federal criminal law. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on Democrats had gone out of their way
Now, we didn’t have to imagine the another matter, as the Senate headed to slow the process.
consequences of betraying the brave of- into the June work period, the Demo- Remember, at the first sign of an
ficers charged with keeping the peace. cratic leader laid out an agenda that agreement last night and then again
Millions of Americans have been living was transparently designed to fail, a this morning, both the Democratic
this dangerous new reality literally for string of far-left proposals that were leader and the Speaker of the House
months. Last year closed with the Na- not intended to become law or to make made it clear they would hold a bipar-
a difference in the lives of the Amer- tisan agreement hostage, demanding
tion’s sharpest 1-year increase in homi-
ican people. They were designed to fail trillions of dollars in wasteful spending
cides in decades. In New York City, the
and provide political theater for liberal and job-killing tax increases in return
murder rate jumped nearly 45 percent,
activists. for even considering it. The top two
and in my hometown of Louisville, it is
And sure enough, the Senate did re- Democrats literally pulled the rug out
already on pace this year to exceed last
ject Democrats’ brazen attempt to re- from under their bipartisan negotiators
year’s all-time record.
write the rules of American elections, with these unserious demands before
New fears arose in communities
permanently, to their own advantage. they had even made it down to the
across the country, and as Democrats
We did reject their bid to exploit the White House.
flirted with their imagined future with- So President Biden’s show of support
out police, Americans did exactly what cause of paycheck fairness to fill the
earlier today appeared to be a major
you would expect of a free people: They pockets of the trial bar. And other rad-
breakthrough for earning Democrats’
looked to their own defense and exer- ical proposals, like the one to impose support, but, alas, that optimism was
cised their Second Amendment rights crushing legal penalties on organiza- short-lived. Less than 2 hours after
in record numbers. The FBI processed tions that failed to conform to leftwing publicly commending our colleagues
nearly 40 million background checks on social preferences, didn’t make it to and actually endorsing the bipartisan
gun purchasers last year, shattering the floor. agreement, the President took the ex-
previous records. And, nationwide, 40 But, let’s remember, this was never traordinary step of threatening to veto
percent of the guns sold last year were just about policy. If our colleagues ac- it. It was a tale of two press con-
purchased by—listen to this—first-time tually believed that the substance of ferences—endorse the agreement in one
buyers. In particular, members of ra- their plans were viable, they would breath and threaten to veto it in the
cial minority groups joined the ranks have submitted more to scrutiny in next. Less than 2 hours. It almost
of gun owners in record numbers. committee. We know how things work makes your head spin. Less than 2
So let’s review. In city after city, in this body when a narrow majority hours. As I said, it almost makes your
powerful Democrats vocally refused to actually wants to make a law. That is head spin—an expression of bipartisan-
uphold their responsibilities to protect not what we have actually seen. ship and then an ultimatum on behalf
public safety. Violent crime filled the So Senate Democrats weren’t out to of your leftwing base.
void. Against this backdrop, the Amer- pass any legislation this month. Their I have no doubt the President is
ican people chose to defend themselves designed-to-fail agenda was supposed under enormous pressure from some on
by exercising a core constitutional to indicate that the institution of the the left to deliver on a laundry list of
right. Senate itself was somehow broken. And radical climate demands. The Demo-
But now, as Democrats at the State on this count, our friends across the cratic leader and the Speaker have al-
and local level play politics with public aisle failed spectacularly. ready made clear they will do whatever
safety, Democrats here in Washington See, the Framers designed the upper it takes to keep their runaway spend-
want to make gun ownership in Amer- Chamber, our Chamber, to be a proving ing train chugging along all summer,
ica more burdensome than ever. Promi- ground, a place where good ideas would and more and more Members of their
nent voices on the left, including some rise to meet high standards and bad party are having to contort their posi-
of our colleagues, fanned the flames of ones would actually fall flat. So this tions to keep pace with the expecta-
a dangerously misguided experiment, month our Senate colleagues proved tions of the Green New Deal fringe.
and law-abiding Americans are paying that the Senate is working quite well. But, really, caving completely in less
the price. We turned away an underhanded at- than 2 hours? That is not the way to
Here in the Senate, Republicans have tempt to open American employers to show you are serious about getting a
been focused all along on making a new form of unlimited predatory li- bipartisan outcome.
American communities actually safer. ability and a hostile takeover of our So, look, I hope our colleagues can
It is why we supported TIM SCOTT’s ef- election system. And the whole time, recover and get their good-faith efforts
forts to pass police reform that empow- productive work continued on bipar- back on track.
ered law enforcement to do their jobs tisan proposals that are actually—ac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
very well rather than federalizing and tually—intended to become law. From Democratic whip is recognized.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
defunding the police. infrastructure to agriculture, many of f
It is the reason that Chairman our colleagues have been hard at work
LINDSEY GRAHAM and 46 other Repub- demonstrating the right way to go GUN VIOLENCE
lican Senators joined me today to de- about legislating. In the Commerce and Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this
mand publicly that the Department of EPW Committees, they approved smart week marked the official start of sum-
Justice cease its efforts to restrict the legislation with wide bipartisan votes. mer, and by all means, it should be a
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S4760 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 24, 2021
season of renewal in our Nation. But as I have visited schools across Chicago, and I sent a letter to Governor
we begin to emerge from this public and I have asked the students if they Pritzker highlighting effective strate-
health crisis of COVID–19, we find our- know someone who has been shot. In gies for how to use more than $120 mil-
selves facing another crisis: an epi- some neighborhoods, nearly every lion in American Rescue Plan funds to
demic of gun violence in America. child’s hand goes up. In fact, 90 percent help support targeted violence inter-
The gun violence we are seeing in of Chicago’s homicides occur in neigh- vention efforts. These funds, which will
America today is devastating, and it is borhoods where 60 percent of the city’s help protect Illinois from violent
the direct result of generations of youngest kids live and learn. And when crimes, are available now to help the
underinvestment, policy failure, and their parents or siblings are shot, it police, to help the victims, to help the
cycles of trauma. causes damage that, unlike a bullet neighborhoods.
Yesterday, President Biden spoke to wound, cannot heal with time alone. When we talk about really caring and
the Nation about this challenge and Science shows us that trauma rewires really wanting to do something to
laid out a clear strategy to keep our children’s brains and produces changes make a difference, I am sorry that I
communities safe from the scourge of that can last a lifetime. have to remind the Senate that this
gun violence. The President has called I often ask audiences: Think about bill, the American Rescue Plan, passed
for important reforms to crack down your youth. Think about one event in the U.S. Senate without a single Re-
on gun trafficking and gun dealers who your life that you still remember to publican supporting it, not one—not
willfully violate the law. I agree with this day. I hope it was a happy one. I one Republican vote.
this strategy, and I will do everything hope it wasn’t a sad one. But think To most effectively address the spike
in my power as chair of the Senate Ju- about the fact that no matter how old in gun violence, the Senate must also
diciary Committee to support it. you are, something that happened confirm the Director for the Bureau of
Already, the administration has when you were a tiny kid is still very Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explo-
worked to rein in the proliferation of fresh in your memory. sives.
untraceable ghost guns. What are these Now think about a child who has wit- I couldn’t help but listen to the Re-
guns? They are guns that can be or- nessed a shooting or been the victim of publican leader who came to the floor
dered on the internet. They can be a shooting. That is going to be with to talk about David Chipman. He is a
made in component parts with no se- them for a lifetime unless we do some- man who will be reported out of the Ju-
rial numbers and are impossible to thing. Childhood trauma can make it diciary Committee and brought to the
trace. The administration has also harder for kids to learn and to form floor. He was considered today, in the
worked to issue regular reports on fire- Judiciary Committee—11 Democrats
healthy relationships, and it can do se-
arms trafficking patterns and trends and 11 Republicans split along party
rious harm to a child physically, men-
and to promote model legislation to lines on his vote. It was expected. But
tally, and emotionally—harm that can
keep guns out of the wrong hands. Senator SCHUMER can still bring his
These are all important steps, and so change their lives.
But with the right care and support, nomination to the floor.
is the President’s call for a major com- It is no surprise that the Republicans
kids and victims of gun violence can
mitment of Federal resources to sup- opposed him, but let’s put it in context
deal with trauma and rise above it.
port community violence intervention for a moment. How many times have
programs, programs like READI Chi- Across Illinois, I have seen programs in you heard a gun debate and you heard
cago, which supports members of the schools, hospitals, community centers, someone say, ‘‘We don’t need any new
community who are most at risk for and churches that provide the nur- laws, we just need to enforce the laws
gun violence with job training and turing environments and treatments we have. Don’t dream up some new law
other support. These programs help our children who experience trauma that’s going to burden someone who is
save lives in our city of Chicago, and need to thrive. an innocent, law-abiding gun owner,
they desperately need Federal support. If we want to end the epidemic of gun enforce the laws we have.’’
President Biden made it clear yester- violence, we need to invest in commu- So what Agency do we look to for
day that he is committed to this. nity-based solutions that end the cy- that enforcement? Well, certainly, the
Every Monday, as sad as it is, the cles of trauma. Last week I joined Sen- Department of Justice. And where do
people of Chicago awaken to read the ators CAPITO, DUCKWORTH, and MUR- they turn? They turn to ATF. That is
heartbreaking headlines about the toll KOWSKI in introducing a bipartisan bill the Agency that is supposed to keep an
gun violence has taken over the week- that will invest in those solutions: the eye on how guns are being sold and
end. What was last weekend like in the RISE from Trauma Act. This bill would whether the wrong people are buying
city of Chicago? Fifty-two people were invest billions of dollars over the next them.
shot, five fatally. 8 years in community-based efforts to Well, let’s look at the leader of the
Young children and babies don’t es- support children and families who have Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explo-
cape this violence. More than 50 chil- endured trauma. sives Agency under President Trump. I
dren under the age of 15 have been shot This aligns directly with what Presi- would like to give you his name or her
in Chicago this year: Kayden Swann, 1- dent Biden said yesterday and what he name, but I can’t because there was no
year-old, shot in the head while riding requested in his American Jobs Plan. It leader. In 4 years, President Trump and
in a car on Lake Shore Drive; 7-year- would help end violence where it be- Senate Republicans never put in place
old Jaslyn Adams was shot and killed gins—in environments where kids are any single person to head this Agency.
at a McDonald’s drive-through on the neglected, abused, and left to fend for Was it an oversight, an accident? Far
West Side in April; 14-year-old Savanna themselves. from it. Those who are on the side of
Quintero, who was shot and killed ear- This legislation would fund coun- increased gun rights at the expense of
lier this month by gang members in seling for gunshot victims and expand safety don’t want anyone to lead this
the Back of the Yards neighborhood. our trauma-informed workforce—doc- Agency. They want this Agency to go
These children are just a few of the tors, teachers, social service profes- away.
more than 1,500 people who have been sionals, community leaders—to help David Chipman, a man with over 20
shot in Chicago this year. kids who have experienced trauma. years’ experience in the field, who
Our city isn’t alone in facing gun vio- I believe the RISE from Trauma Act worked for this law enforcement agen-
lence. We are seeing it across the Na- will help offer a long-term solution to cy and risked his life in doing so, has
tion. And don’t believe it is just a prob- the epidemic of gun violence, but we been nominated by President Biden to
lem in blue States; red States face it also need to protect our families and head the Agency. And the Republicans
too. neighborhoods in the short term. can’t stand the idea. The fact that an
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
While a shooting can happen any- In addition to immediate steps it has actual law enforcement agency person
where, the fact is gun violence has dis- taken, the administration is asking us who has this experience would lead the
proportionately claimed the lives of to address violent crime. I have been Agency just drives them wild to think
Black and Brown Americans living in working with leaders in my State to about it, and they are opposed to it.
communities where it is often easier to make additional resources available. Yes, it is true, he is for gun safety,
find a gun than a good-paying job. Earlier this week, Senator DUCKWORTH and he has made it clear.
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June 24, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4761
Let me tell you about a couple of this situation and find an effective so- ATF, but we are going to move forward
radical ideas he had. He believes that lution that doesn’t risk lives and and do it. There wasn’t a Senate-con-
we should keep guns out of the hands doesn’t endanger the lives of the police. firmed Director under President
of felons and people who are mentally They need a helping hand, and we Trump. In fact, there hasn’t been one
unable. Well, there is a radical idea should give it to them. since 2015. This man, Mr. Chipman, is
when it comes to gun safety, so radical When it comes to law and order, I extremely well qualified—25 years of
that 84 percent of the American peo- hear the Republican leader come to the experience. He worked in the field in
ple—some say 90 percent of the Amer- floor and talk about the need for law Virginia, Texas, and Michigan. He
ican people, including a majority of and order, and I can’t help but think it knows the Agency inside and out. He is
gun owners—support this idea, and so was just 2 weeks ago when he was given the right person.
does Mr. Chipman. That makes him a a chance to support a bipartisan com- Background checks—is that too
radical in the eyes of some of our col- mission to look into the worst lawless- much to ask? I don’t think so. We
leagues. To me, he is as mainstream as ness we have seen in the U.S. Capitol should pass the bill. In March, the
they come. since 1813. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8,
When it comes to assault weapons, On January 6, 2021, thousands coming a bipartisan bill to close the gaps in
for example, he believes there are some from the speech by President Trump the background checks system. We
guns that really have no place in the formed an insurrectionist mob and de- ought to do the same.
ordinary self-defense, sporting, and scended on this Capitol. I will never Addressing gun violence is a top pri-
hunting world and can only be used as forget that day as long as I live, and, ority of the Senate Judiciary Com-
machines for killing. Over half the yes, we ought to get to the bottom of mittee. In fact, the committee has al-
American people happen to agree with it. Who financed that? Who planned ready held four hearings on the topic.
him. I do too. For that reason, many that? Who was behind that? There are The first was the day after the mass
Republicans oppose him. They say, serious questions to be asked and an- shooting—the most recent mass shoot-
‘‘He’s a radical, he’s a zealot.’’ I have swered. Who stopped the bill with the ing in Boulder, CO, that left 10 people
heard all these words. filibuster for a bipartisan commission dead. Sadly, unimaginably—listen to
He is a man who has lived his life asking and answering those questions? this number, Mr. President—that was
through the ATF for more than 20 The same Senator who was coming just one of 299 mass shootings in Amer-
years. He has the support of law en- here a few minutes ago giving a speech ica so far this year. That is more than
forcement and deserves a chance to on law and order. It doesn’t follow. one mass shooting every single day.
lead this Agency. If Senator MCCONNELL believes we
What is going on? How can we tolerate
These ideas that he has—wouldn’t it should have law and order, it should
that situation in our country?
be wonderful if the U.S. Senate—think start with the Senate Chamber and the Yet, during the first hearing on gun
about that—the U.S. Senate could pass Capitol Building. Isn’t that our first re- violence in our committee, one of the
legislation to require background sponsibility as elected Members? Of Republican members of the committee
checks to keep guns out of the hands of course it is. What happened January 6
described the hearing as ‘‘ridiculous
convicted felons? The American people cannot and should not be swept under
theater.’’ Ridiculous theater. Do you
want it. We can’t touch it. the rug.
It is interesting to me, as I consider want to know what ridiculous theater
You ask people on the committee, on really looks like? It is filibustering a
the Republican side: Well, what should the nominees of the Biden administra-
tion and the reaction on the Repub- piece of gun safety reform like uni-
we do about gun violence? They have versal background checks supported by
lican side. Mr. Chipman was the latest
got an answer. What is their answer? 90 percent of the people. It is calling
victim of their attacks. Some on the
We need more guns in America. We for an enforcement of gun laws already
political extreme even went so far as to
need more people carrying guns in on the books and blocking anyone from
doctor films so that it reflected the
America. Two or three of the members being confirmed who will do it. Ridicu-
presence of Mr. Chipman at events he
of the committee today on the Repub- lous theater is tweeting slogans in re-
didn’t even attend, events he had no
lican side, Senate Judiciary Com- sponse to a spike in gun violence rath-
business with as a member of ATF.
mittee, were proud to speak about this er than coming up with solutions.
That is the extent they will go to un-
issue of concealed carry. One actually The Presiding Officer knows as well
dermine the Biden administration’s
said she carries a gun. I don’t know if as I do and maybe even better that
nominees.
she does it in the Capitol Building. And I can’t help but notice that when there have been too many funerals, too
That is her business. But that is how it comes to assertive women of color, many lives lost to the scourge of gun
far it has come, this notion that the so- that really drives many Republicans to violence. Can we get serious for one
lution to gun violence is more guns a level of rage. Vanita Gupta. Kristen moment on a bipartisan basis and dedi-
when 109 people a day are dying in Clarke. These women are extremely cate ourselves to reducing gun violence
America from gun violence. This isn’t talented, professional women with and saving lives in America? We have a
happening in other nations around the amazing resumes who are now luckily President who is ready to lead us in
world. We are unique, and we should be serving this Nation because of a vote in that direction. I hope my other col-
embarrassed by this unique situation the Senate, but the opposition to them leagues on the other side of the aisle
that we have so much gun violence and went way beyond anything that was ra- will join Democrats in enacting legisla-
gun death in America. tional or explainable. tion to keep America safe.
President Biden made it clear yester- Senator MCCONNELL said we I yield the floor.
day as well that this notion that he is shouldn’t make ownership of guns f
for defunding the police is ludicrous. more burdensome. I think that is gen-
He called yesterday for billions of dol- REMEMBERING FATHER RAY
erally right, but if making sure that
lars to our police to do their job more DOHERTY
convicted felons don’t own guns is a
effectively, and I support it. I want to slight burden on those who are legally Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, there are
make sure that the police who receive entitled to own guns, I think it is not some people who leave an indelible
these funds are well trained and admin- too much to ask. mark on your life, from the moment
ister justice in a fair way and without I am all for people exercising their you meet them. On June 7, the Saint
the abuses that we have seen with the Second Amendment rights to use guns Michael’s College community lost one
death of George Floyd and other in- safely, respectfully, follow the law, and such person with the passing of Father
stances. store them, as well, in that same fash- Raymond Doherty. As an alumnus of
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Yes, invest in that, but have the wis- ion, and to ask them to go through a Saint Michael’s College, I was shaped
dom to understand that the police need background check to make sure they by the academic experience and lasting
helping hands as well. The police would are qualified is not too much, and it tight-knit community that a small col-
gladly give the issue of domestic vio- saves lives in the process. lege provides and will always feel a
lence over to social workers and psy- The gun lobby tries to stop the Sen- deep connection to the school. As a fel-
chologists, who really could get into ate from confirming the Director of the low alumnus, Father Doherty was a
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