Rush voices this week's Congressional Black Caucus "Message to America" national radio address

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– U. S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush today took to the nation's airwaves as he delivered this week's Congressional Black Caucus "Message to America," a weekly national radio broadcast, featured on the American Urban Radio Network, that focuses on the shared interests and concerns of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rush was recently named to the Board of Directors of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Rush's broadcast will be released, today, at 3:15 p.m. EST throughout the American Urban Radio Network's audience—an audience that reaches about 20 million listeners.  It will also be prominently featured, on Monday, June 15, shortly after 7:00 p.m. EST on the popular "Bev Smith Show."

Rush's message shines a spotlight on the nation's obscenely high levels of gun-related violence  which continues unabated with an average of 45 gun-related deaths each and every day—more than the combined, weekly deaths that occur in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.  In his remarks, Rush highlighted two bills that offer common sense solutions that 1) aid law enforcement officials in tracking down guns involved in crimes (H.R. 45), and 2) supports community-based interventions (H.R. 1303) that have shown promising results in helping to stop gun-related violence, especially among at-risk youth.

The text of the Congressman's two-minute remarks is as follows:

"This is Congressman Bobby L. Rush, representing the First Congressional District of the State of Illinois, with this week's Congressional Black Caucus "Message to America."

"Ladies and gentlemen, my message, this week, speaks to our nation's insane relationship with the gun.  On a daily basis, on average, 45 men, women or children die as a result of gun-related violence. And yet, where is the outrage?

"Guns are no respecter of persons.  Whether it's extremists who randomly murder law-abiding medical doctors, like Dr. George Tiller, or hate-filled assailants who open fire in crowded museums or on the school yard—or the school bus—there are too many sad stories and too much loss of life.

"My colleagues and I in the CBC work tirelessly to stop the violence.  I've even proposed a reasonable measure, H.R. 45, known as "Blair's Bill," that simply seeks to register guns as a way to aid law enforcement.

"I've also introduced a proactive remedy, H.R. 1303, known as the CAN DO Act.  This bill is gaining national, community-based support for its common sense interventions and creative, public/private partnerships.  I believe CAN DO can make a difference because it brings together local stakeholders who are committed to stopping the violence that plagues their neighborhoods.

"But much more needs to be done.

 "As an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, my simple hope and prayer is this.  That each of us would seek to love ourselves, and one another, more than we love guns.

"This is Congressman Bobby L. Rush with this week's CBC "Message to America."  Thanks for listening."

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Here's a link to the text of H.R. 45, "Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009":

And H.R. 1303, "Communities in Action Neighborhood Defense and Opportunity Act of 2009" or "CAN DO":