Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages H1529-H1530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GUN VIOLENCE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Deutch) for 5 minutes.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I don't know what it is like to lose a child
to gun violence. My words are not sufficient to describe that pain.
These are the words of Patricia Oliver, the mother of Joaquin Oliver.
Joaquin was killed 1 year ago tomorrow at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Florida.
Dear Representative Deutch: I am writing to you to plead
with you to ensure that other mothers and fathers do not have
to endure this gut-wrenching pain, the senseless and
unnecessary loss of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness for my family.
My name is Patricia Oliver. My beautiful son, Joaquin, was
one of the 17 who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman
Douglas High School last year. Words cannot express the
devastation wrought on the families of the victims, the
shattering of families, friends, and those who survived.
After the avoidable mass shooting, many said we were in
their thoughts and prayers. How many of you in this Chamber
uttered just those words?
I thank you for your prayers, but are you actually thinking
about your constituents, about those you have sworn an oath
to serve, and about those you know and love? If you were
thinking, you would do something.
It is in your power to enact commonsense gun laws,
commonsense mental health support, and appropriate support
and guidance
[[Page H1530]]
to law enforcement. If we have the courage to stand up and do
this, then never again will thoughts and prayers be needed in
the aftermath of a mass shooting.
This country is at a crossroads. We need your leadership.
We need your love, your compassion. We need your serious
thought unmarred by lobbyists.
I implore you to think about the kids. Think about how you
would feel if it were your son, your daughter, your
granddaughter, or your grandson, because it could be.
Had we--had the Members of this body--learned the lessons
of Columbine and of Sandy Hook, Joaquin would still be here.
The lives of hundreds would not have been ripped to pieces.
This was preventable.
Something you can do, and urge your colleagues to do right
this moment, is support the recently introduced universal
background checks bill.
It is now my mission in life to do whatever I can to ensure
that no mother and no father have to endure the pain I have,
that no shining beacon of light, hope, and love like my
Joaquin is snuffed out too soon in a preventable mass
shooting.
We know that he didn't have to die if our leaders had done
enough. Other countries have solved this problem. The roadmap
exists. Please follow it.
Sincerely, Patricia Oliver, Parkland, Florida.
Mr. Speaker, Patricia and Manuel, Joaquin's father, have not allowed
Joaquin to remain a victim. He is an advocate.
Last month, the Olivers visited Capitol Hill with a statue of Joaquin
to deliver this letter and to call for change. It is time to listen to
them, Patricia, Manuel, and Joaquin. We shouldn't have to know the pain
that Patricia and Manny know, that 16 other families in Parkland know,
and that families in every corner of this country know, to do something
about gun violence.
The time to act is now.
____________________