Quigley Voices Support for Chicago's Handgun Ban

Video of the speech can be found here

Tonight, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley delivered the following speech on the House floor:

"Madam Speaker, in the past weeks and months, Chicago has made national news “ and unfortunately not just because of the Olympic decision, but because school-aged children have been attacked and killed by other school-aged children.

The last thing our city needs is more guns on the street and more children fearing for their safety.

Recently, the United States Supreme Court agreed to review McDonald vs. City of Chicago, a case that challenges whether Chicago's local handgun ban is legal. In a time of national concern over senseless and deadly attacks, it is a concern.

Since 1983, it has been illegal to purchase or own a handgun within Chicago's city limits. Over the course of that 26 years since, Chicago has seen the number of registered handguns drop. Guns have become scarcer, saving lives and creating safer neighborhoods in the process.

As we work to make our cities and communities safer, there are many additional things we could and should fight for. I stand ready to work with the administration to reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban, and ready to work with this body to close the Gun Show Loophole. In the absence of federal action, it is critical that we preserve the rights of the people of states and municipalities to protect their children and families at the local level."