Billy Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As someone living in Chicago in the United States, which is the city with the highest murder rate in that country, arising from gang and drug violence, I am still appalled by what happened in Orlando in the past couple of days. A couple of years ago, 91% of American people polled wanted background checks for gun control but such an initiative could not get 60 votes in the US Senate because of the money that the National Rifle Association had donated to politicians. In my own restaurants in Chicago, I have a notice on the doors with a gun and a red line going through it, as it is legal to carry concealed weapons in Chicago. That is so I am covered legally if someone shoots in my restaurant. This has all come from the money spent by these political action committees. There is no control on the money coming in to these committees and they can spend it how they like, with no disclosure. We must ensure we do not allow that to happen in this country.