Last night's tragic shooting at the Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas is yet another example of the disastrous consequences that can result when guns get into the wrong hands. My sympathies go out to the families of the seven people who were killed and to the seven others who were wounded.

In a year when we have seen hatred targeted at children, at Jews, at Asian Americans, and now at youths assembling to affirm their faith, it is time for all of us to thoroughly reexamine how we regulate firearms in this country. Congress has dithered, delayed, and denied the importance of this issue long enough: I am today calling upon the members of the Conference Committee currently considering juvenile justice and gun control legislation to immediately meet and bring to the floor a common-sense gun-safety bill. We need to put politics aside and put Americans' safety first. Let us together keep guns from madmen and make our churches, streets, and synagogues safe from firearms so that we can prevent another tragedy like last night's in Fort Worth.

Congressman Weiner is a member of the House of Representatives Crime Subcommittee.

Congressman Anthony D. Weiner