I was just 16 years old when a bullet severed my spinal cord. In a single moment, I lost the ability to walk. In a single moment, my dream of becoming a police officer was destroyed. In a single moment, my young life was changed forever.
But I'm one of the lucky ones. I lived. What happened to me was a tragic accident, a misfired weapon in a police station locker room. I wasn't targeted for my race, religion, or sexual orientation. It had nothing to do with hate or fear or political beliefs. But I am nonetheless a living, breathing reminder of the terrible damage that guns can cause, even in the hands of trained experts.
And if what happened to me could happen in one of the safest places imaginable, why then have we failed to do everything in our power to keep guns out of the hands of those who seek to do us harm? How many more people have to die before this Congress takes action and passes responsible, commonsense gun reforms?
But this moment, this seminal moment in our nation's history, is not about me. This moment is about the 49 people killed in Orlando. It's about the 32 at Virginia Tech, the 27 at Sandy Hook -- 20 of whom were elementary school children -- and the countless other lives that are ended too early each day because of senseless gun violence.
What has long frustrated me about this debate is that it is often painted in black and white. You either support the Second Amendment, or you want the government to confiscate all firearms. You either believe in the Constitution, or you denigrate it. That is unequivocally false. Supporting the Second Amendment and passing sensible gun reforms are not mutually exclusive goals, and we need to stop framing the discussion as though they are.
Requiring a background check does not infringe on our Second Amendment rights. In fact, most of my gun-owning constituents are familiar with the process. They go into a licensed gun store, undergo a background check, and purchase a weapon legally. I fully support their right to do that. I support their right to bear arms, as afforded by the Constitution. But when someone is able to attend a gun show and walk out the same day with a firearm after completely circumventing the background check process, that is unacceptable. What if that person has a lengthy criminal record that would preclude them from owning a weapon? What if that person is being monitored by the FBI for suspected terrorist ties? What if that person has a violent past and is a habitual offender of domestic abuse? Without a comprehensive background check, none of these factors disqualify that individual from buying a firearm at a gun show.
It's these kinds of reasonable changes that are at the heart of this issue. It's not all or nothing; it's common sense.
The gun lobby would have you believe that anyone who wants to see reforms to our gun laws is an extremist who doesn't support your right to bear arms. The issue is so heavily laden with heated rhetoric and fear-mongering that productive dialogue has become almost as challenging as the prospect of consensus. We will not be able to address this issue until we can have a healthy and honest debate about it. And that is why I was so proud to join with my colleagues for a historic sit-in, demanding that gun reform issues come to the Floor of the House of Representatives for thorough debate and a vote. Led by Congressman John Lewis -- a civil rights hero who has seen the power of civil disobedience -- we gathered to send a message that we will not be silenced. This issue is too important to ignore.
Without a majority, it's true that the proposals would have likely failed. I was on the floor of the United States Senate when they defeated the Manchin-Toomey compromise right in front of the Sandy Hook parents who had come to beg for reason, to beg for their children. These parents, whose grief is unthinkable, were stunned. Some openly wept. I remember thinking, 'if not now, then when?' I couldn't fathom being able to cast that vote and then look in their eyes and justify voting no. But that's exactly what we should have to do. Speaker Ryan, bring the bills to the floor and let the chips fall where they may. We owe our constituents that much. I'm proud to support commonsense gun reforms, and I have no reservations in explaining that position to my constituents. Maybe it's not so easy for you to look into the eyes of a mother whose child was gunned down and make your case. Maybe that should tell you something.
I, of course, want these proposals to pass. For every parent, spouse and friend who has had to bury their loved one, I believe these proposals are in the best interest of our nation. But at the very least, the obstructionism needs to end. No more tweets, no more 'thoughts and prayers,' no more empty statements. Let us debate. Let us have a real conversation. And then let us vote.
If we put aside our differences, forget the polls and ignore the lobbyists, there are meaningful changes we can make to keep people safe. In a single moment, we have the power to change history.
This is that moment. Let's not waste it.
Congressman Jim Langevin, a Democrat from Rhode Island, is the first quadriplegic to serve in the United States Congress. He was paralyzed at the age of 16 after an accidental shooting, while volunteering as a Police Explorer cadet.
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