Last week Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy hosted an editorial board meeting in her district offices in Hempstead. She presented a large package of resource materials to every member of the press in attendance outlining her stand on reducing gun violence, her "Commonsense Family Tax Relief Act, a new and improved Bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights," and her report on prescription drug prices on Long Island. In the interest of providing the most in-depth coverage of each issue, each subject will be addressed independently in subsequent issues. This week the focus will be on reducing gun violence, as the California shootings were fresh in the minds of the reporters and editors speaking with the congresswoman at the time.

McCarthy stated that she has often been accused by gun lobbyists of being anti-Second Amendment and that she wants to see all gun owners hand over their weapons, whether owned legally or not. McCarthy said that this simply isn't true and that she only wants to see gun owners be responsible for their firearms and illegal gun runners be held accountable for their actions. She said she'd like to see the checks system become more effective nationally so that guns are not sold or permits issued to people with criminal records or histories of mental illness.

McCarthy delivered the following speech to the first Conference Committee meeting for the Juvenile Justice bill:

"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve with my colleagues on the Conference Committee. Many members have worked over a period of years to bring us to this point today. We have faced -- and we continue to face -- many controversial issues, but I am hopeful that we can agree on a Conference report that will address the American people's concerns regarding juvenile crime.

"I am approaching this Conference Committee with an open mind, but I remain absolutely committed to the goal of addressing the problem of children's and felons' access to firearms. The overwhelming majority of Americans support Congressional action on reasonable gun provisions, including closing the gun show loophole. Moreover, just last week, over 300 members of the House voted in favor of a motion to instruct this Conference that called for 'effective background checks conducted on all firearms from non-licensed firearms dealers at gun shows.'

"Despite overwhelming public support, we have heard statements that the Lautenberg amendment and the amendment I offered in the House are 'killer amendments.' It would appear that someone is attempting to pre-determine the outcome of this Conference Committee.

"Let's drop the discussion of killer amendments and the political posturing on the gun show loophole. Let's begin on common ground. We should all recognize that children's and felons' access to firearms is a problem. We should begin with the shared goal of enforcing our federal laws to keep guns out of the hands of prohibited persons. Let's also begin with the premise that we will not weaken current federal law. If we start with the goal of keeping guns out of the hands of felons and children and we abide by the principle of strengthening rather than weakening federal law, I believe we can close the gun show loophole and save some lives.

"I am not naive. I approach our work here with my eyes wide open and I know that there are certain misguided interests that would rather see us do nothing, especially on gun violence and gun crime. But, I think we can rise above the special interest lobbying and address the American people's concerns regarding juvenile crime.

"Listen, we should and we can work together. For example, each member of the Conference Committee holds different views regarding the right balance between prevention programs vs. punishment of juvenile offenders. We all recognize and respect the views of our colleagues on the Committee. As we open the Conference, I think we should recall that earlier this year, Mr. Scott and Mr. McCollum were able to craft a bill that gained strong bipartisan support in Judiciary Committee. We should remember that an effective balance can be reported from this Conference that will enjoy the support of both Democratic and Republican members.

"So I urge my colleagues on the Committee to keep an open mind and approach this Conference with the confidence that bipartisan solutions can be reached. I also want to urge my colleagues to remember what has brought us this far. The debate over Juvenile Justice has been spurred on by the tragic school shooting. Most notably, the terrible shootings in Littleton moved the American people to call upon Congress for action on juvenile crime. The tragedy at Columbine High -- in combination with the shootings in Springfield, West Paducah, Jonesboro, Pearl and the 13 children we lose every day -- clearly demonstrate that Congress must do something about children's access to guns. The Senate responded to America's concerns. Senators Kennedy, Schumer, Feinstein, Boxer, Lautenberg, and others drafted modest provisions to reduce children's access to guns. They put forth provisions that all of us should be able to support -- and in fact, their provisions were approved by the Senate.

"Unfortunately, somewhere along the way we forgot about Littleton. We forgot that the American people want us to enact reasonable laws to protect children from gun violence -- including closing the gun show loophole. However, the American people have not forgotten. Over the last four months I have heard from high school students, elementary school students, nurses, doctors, mothers, fathers, teachers, school administrators, Republicans, Democrats, sportsmen, Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, and police officers. They have all pleaded, Congress must say enough is enough. Approve common sense gun laws and protect our children.

"Mr. Chairman, enough is enough. The 13 children that fall to gun violence every day in America, that's enough. Five thousand suicides, homocides, and accidental shootings every year, that's enough. Billions of dollars in health care costs and lost productivity because of gun violence, that's enough.

"Springfield, Oregon

"West Paducah, Kentucky

"Edinborough, Pennsylvania

Jonesboro, Arkansas

"Pearl, Mississippi

"Conyers, Georgia

"Littleton, Colorado

"That's enough.

"At the very least Mr. Chairman, it should be enough for each of us to approach the Conference with an open mind, have the confidence that we can craft bipartisan solutions and share the common goal to keep guns out of the hands of felons and children."

McCarthy also noted at the press breakfast, in response to questions about the California shooting, which was a hate crime perpetrated by a middle-aged man who was a member of various hate groups, that she does not believe that Congress is ready to pass anti-hate crimes legislation. She noted that federal laws exist on the subject, but prosecuting hate groups is almost impossible, as it is very difficult to prove that they encourage any individual act and to establish responsibility.

McCarthy stated that her research indicates that many guns used in crimes in New York traced after the fact were purchased at gun shows in other states like Florida and Pennsylvania. She argued that by passing legislation to control or better regulate the sale of firearms through gun shows, the government could limit the number of sales and the transporting of guns without proper permits. She wants to see the ability to circumvent state guidleines limited by identifying the source of the weapons.

Gun manufacturers are able to sell weapons which are actually illegal at the gun shows as well. Background checks are not conducted as they should be and often guns fall into the hand of criminals and mentally unstable individuals when this could easily be prevented, according to McCarthy. She said she's ready to go back to Congress in September after their short summer break and work within the Conference Committee to effect change.