Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021. This common-sense legislation would save lives in every state, every congressional district, and every community, by preventing guns from being sold to people who are dangers to themselves or others.

If this is truly ``The People's House'' then we MUST pass H.R. 8 for the safety and protection of all people. Enough is enough. Too many times innocent lives have been lost to guns in the hands of people wishing to do harm. That's why 93 percent of Americans support requiring universal background checks on all gun sales. The people know: background checks work.

By preventing guns from falling into the hands of people with mental illness or criminal history. Last year was a particularly tragic year for the Fifth District, with 177 lives ended at the barrel of a gun. My heart breaks knowing there have already been 25 gun-related deaths in my District this year. As I speak today, I am remembering Kennedy Maxie. A sweet, seven-year-old Black girl shot and killed in Atlanta while Christmas shopping with her family last December. She was an innocent victim, killed by someone who had no business with a gun.

The tragedies are too many, and the gun violence too frequent. It's past time we did something.

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