Shield program, one that can be individually tailored to make our schools as safe as possible. Its time to throw an immediate blan ket of security around our children. About a third of our schools right now have Armed Security already because it works. And that number is growing every day. Right now state officials local authorities and School Districts in 50 states are considering their own plans to protect children in schools. In addition, we need to enforce the thousands of gun laws already on the books. Prosecuting criminals who misuse firearms works. Unfortunately, we see a dramatic collapse in federal gun prosecutions in recent years. In 2011, federal firearms prosecutions per capita were down 35 from their peak in the previous administration. That means violent felons violent gang members and drug dealers with guns and the mentally ill possess firearms are not being prosecuted. And that is completely and totally unacceptable. More than 76,000 firearms purchased denied by the federal instant check system, only 62 were referred for prosecution and only 44 were actually prosecuted. Proposing more gun laws while failing to enforce the thousands we already have, its not a serious solution for reducing crime. I think we can also agree our Mental Health system is broken. We need to look at the full range of Mental Health issues from Early Detection to treatment to civil commitment laws and privacy laws that needlessly prevent Mental Health records from being included in the National Instant check system. While were ready to participate in a meaningful effort to solve these pressing problems, we must respectively but honestly and firmly disagree with some members of the committee and many in the media and all of the Gun Control Groups on what will keep our kids and keep our streets safe. Lawabiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals, nor do we believe the government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families. As i said earlier, we need to be honest about what works and what does not work. Proposals that would only serve to prevent the law abiding have failed in the past and will fail in the future. Semiautomatic Firearm Technology has been around for many years and hunting and target shooting and selfdefense, despite this fact, congress banned to manufacturer and sale of hundreds of semiautomatic magazines from 94 to 2004. Independent st independent studies proved it had no impact on lowering crime. When it comes to background checks, lets be honest. Theyll never be universal because criminals will never submit to them. There are a lot of things that can be done and we ask you to join with us, the nra has made up of millions of americans that support what works. The immediate protection for all, not just some of our School Children is whats needed. And swift certain punishment of criminals who misuse guns and fixing our Mental Health system. We love our families and love our country. We believe in freedom and were the millions from all walks of life who take responsibility for our safety and protection as a godgiven fundamental american right. Thank you. Thank you. Now, chief johnson, let me begin with you if i could, in my experience many im Thomas Roberts at msnbc headquarters in new york. Weve been watching the testimony of Wayne Lapierre, the ceo of the nra, one of the many called to the hill to testify on the Senate Judiciary full committee val situation of what should america do by violence. Gabry elle giffords coming in and testifying very powerful to lead out this mornings hearing. I want to welcome connecticut senator blumenthal, your Immediate Reaction to Wayne Lapierre, he referenced what took place in newtown, connecticut and heartbreaking loss of children, saying theres nothing more precious than our children and also basically saying that the idea of more gun laws is not the action that needs to be taken but its more of the evaluation of instituting an enforcing the gun laws we already have. I think that mr. Lapierre ignores what really was enormously powerful, even riveting testimony from Gabby Giffords and her instruction to our committee, the Judiciary Committee and congress itself, to be bold, to be courageous, because america is counting on you. And the call to action that came from newtown is for better enforcement of existing laws but also new laws that will enable better enforcement. We can have Common Ground with mr. Lapierre that better enforcement of existing laws is necessary, but that leads in my view inevitably for the call for more background checks on the 40 of all firearms purchases that right now are within the exemption of the gun show loophole and private sale and background checks on ammunition purchases. Background checks, for example, and other sensible measures like stronger action against trafficking and straw purchases and including a ban on assault weapons are within the Common Ground that i think we ought to try to establish here. Senator, for those just joining us, we have been keeping the coverage live going this morning of whats been taking place there on the hill with you and your colleagues. For those that may have missed it. I want to replay what former congresswoman giffords said to you all this morning. Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something. The time is now. You must act. Be bold, be courageous. Americans are counting on you. Be bold, be courageous, americans are counting on you. Still in recovery after being shot, almost murdered two years ago in tucson, arizona. Her husband, captain mark kelly one of the first witnesses to testified saying loughner was able to squeeze off 33 different rounds in a matter of 15 seconds because of the glock he had with the extended magazine clip and taken down trying to put in a must magazine clip into that weapon. What is your reaction to having had former congresswoman giffords there to open the hearings today. Shes lending a powerful voice and draws the emotion to that. Do you think her voice will break through to some of those that are more hardened of the idea of new gun reregulations . Her voice alone would not break through but its combined with the tragedy in newtown, 26 innocent beautiful people, 20 wonderful children, 6 great educators who very likely would be alive today if america had heeded the call before now for stronger measures against gun violence. Her voice is an extraordinary beacon. And mark kellys admonition that this time must be different, this time must be different, i think also will carry great weight. But most important, we need to seek Common Ground with responsible gun owners and the Second Amendment as mark kelly emphasized is the law of the land and people have a right to possess firearms but responsible gun owners and users can be in favor of measures that will prevent the kind of horrific tragedy that occurred in newtown. I was there literally within hours of that shooting. And anybody who was there has to be affected by it. I want to ask you to stand by. Mark kelly is being asked questions by the panel. Possibly been in the National Instant background check system about him that would have prevented him from buying a gun through a background check. Thats part of the solution. The other problem, lets say he was denied, denied the purchase of the gun which he purchased in november of 2010, it would have been very easy for him to go to a gun show and purchase a gun without a background check. So you know, there are several things that need to be done and in my opinion and in gabbys opinion, this is one of the most important things we must do to prevent criminals, terrorists and the mentally ill from having easy access to guns. Closing the gun show loophole and requiring private sellers to require a background check before they transfer a gun is i mean, for us, i cant think of something that would make our country safer than doing just that. Thank you. And mr. Lapierre, in 1999 you testified by the house Judiciary Committee and you testified quote, nobody is more committed than we are to keeping guns out of criminals hands. Youre listening to more of the testimony of captain mark kelly referencing jared loughner, who fired the shots in tucson, arizona, that injured his wife and killed many others and talking about how easy it was for loughner to walk into a sportingoods store and puhase that weapon with the extended magazine clip on there. Senator blumenthal has stepped out to answer some of our questions. Based on what your home state has gone through and people talking about newtown within this hearing itself, i want to show everybody the statistics of what the gun interest has been on background checks and people wanting to get guns. So as we look at this, its really staggering to see exactly how many people have actually reached out to get guns. As we look at the numbers can we put it back up, gang . Previous top day for checks, november 30, 1998, 177,000 new top week for checks, december 17th through the 28th, right after the newtown shootings, 953,000 upward, almost a million. As we look at this and the necessity, obviously, sir, to keep in check that americans supported through the Supreme Court in 2008 by the majority person that through the Second Amendment we have a right to bear arms. There is a logical connection with people wanting to facilitate having a right to that. But does it make you worry that there is not enough emphasis on what needs to be done for amending gun violence in the country based on these numbers . What it emphasizes i think is the need for those background checks. Right now, the law prohibits fugitives and felons and seriously mentally ill domestic users under court orders and certain categories of people who should not have guns to actually buy them. Theres a vast exemption, the gun show loophole enables private sellers to do so without any background check whatsoever and for the same people to walk into a shop and buy unlimited amounts of ammunition, a shopping cart full without any background check whatsoever. Those instant background checks done in less than 30 seconds with the data base we have now, that needs to be improved are key to stopping gun violence. Even as we respect the Second Amendment and responsible gun ownership and also trafficking and straw sales. The illegal sales of those weapons. There are enforcement measures and i know from my background in Law Enforcement as attorney general of the state of connecticut for 20 years and federal prosecutor, u. S. Attorney for four and a half years, that these laws can make a difference. And i think better enforcement, stronger enforcement and laws that enable us to keep guns and ammunition out of the hands of people who shouldnt have them. Senator blumenthal well let you get back to the hearing and well go back and listen to Wayne Lapierre who has been asked about the prosecution of people who have gotten weapons illegally and hes blaming the Current Administration for not going after them more actively. Mr. Lapierre my time is up. With all due respect, that was not the question i asked nor did you answer it. I think it is the answer. I honestly do okay. Its your testimony. Senator grassley. Before i ask questions, senator hatch asked if i would explain to everybody here why he left. Hes Ranking Member of the finance committee and senator we continue to watch the hearing thats taking place on what to do about gun violence in the country. Well take a quick commercial break and take you back there live right after this. This is f. This is f. Step seven point two one two. Verify and lock. Command is locked. Five seconds. Three, two, one. Standing by for capture. The most Innovative Software on the planet. 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Thn we go to chicago where three people were killed jed, including a teen who performed at president obamas inauguration. In vegas, four people were shot at the home last night and three killed and gunman opened fire at the office building. Thats an update on the most recent gun violence in our country right now. Joining me is democratic congresswoman debbie wassermanshultz. Your reaction to seeing Gabby Giffords opening up the hearing this morning. Do you think the voice will resonate through to some of those not wanting to hear about changes needed . I think gabby is strong and clear message today, which was full of strength and emotion as based on her personal experience but also based on her track record as a supporter of the Second Amendment will absolutely have a tremendous impact. I do agree with senator blumenthal that by itself, gabbys voice its going to be tough for it to penetrate all the way through the millions and millions of dollars that the nra has spent over the years. But thats why she and mark started americans for responsible solutions. It is a Grass Roots Organization thats going to push the proposals that they believe are important like banning high capacity magazines and making sure we have universal background checks. Its absolutely essential that what we pass ultimately is based on what americans across the country and nra and gun rights supporters overwhelmingly believe is essential, that we keep guns that dont believe in the hands of criminals out of those hands and also that we make sure we reduce gun violence. The nra is clearly dramatically out of step with the mainstream america on this. One really important point to make sure everybody realizes, when captain mark kelly testified and also Gabby Giffords said in the past, they are gun owners and do support the Second Amendment, even after the tragedy their family has been through. I want to talk about your home state of florida. A local Florida Paper reported earlier while florida is home to the most gun permits in the country, firearm violence is at a record low. The numbers also show in 2011, guns were used in more than 70 of homicides. So how strong is the political will to put gun reform in states with constituents who are big on their guns front and center . Well, for example, this afternoon, thomas, i have a roundtable here in my Congressional District with gun rights supporters, life nra members who dont agree with the nra position that we shouldnt do anything to ma