The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE DAILY 45: A FAMILY'S HOUSING CRISIS ENDS WITH A GUN” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1563 on July 25, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE DAILY 45: A FAMILY'S HOUSING CRISIS ENDS WITH A GUN
______
HON. BOBBY L. RUSH
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. While most of the gun violence stems from crime, far too often a loaded weapon in the hands of an emotionally distraught individual leads to tragedy.
Such was the case, two days ago, when the economic impact of the nation's housing crisis took a toll on a Massachusetts family. In a moment of despair, 53-year-old Carlene Balderrama took her life with a gun on the day that her mortgage company was set to sell her foreclosed home.
Balderrama was a wife and mother of a young son whose desperation found relief at the end of the barrel of a gun. Her suicide shocked the small, quiet town of Taunton, a community with origins that stem from the birth of our nation. In a tragic twist, before she killed herself, Mrs. Balderrama faxed a note to her mortgage company saying, ``By the time you foreclose on my house, I'll be dead.'' While any number of intervening forces could have made a difference, in an instant, a gun took away those options. My heart goes out to her family and her community on their loss.
Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''
____________________
