"The fact is, we have a problem in America. And in light of our recent tragedies, today is the day to talk about it. Last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control, guns caused the deaths of 31,347 Americans. For sheer scale, consider that only 6,653 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in over 11 years of war. Having such a high rate of gun violence is not an acceptable status quo for a civilized country. Period."