Expressing Sense Of House Regarding Arizona Shooting
Madam Speaker, I rise to express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this senseless tragedy and to the family of our colleague, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. I hope and pray for her quick recovery. And to the people of…
Madam Speaker, I rise to express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this senseless tragedy and to the family of our colleague, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. I hope and pray for her quick recovery. And to the people of the Eighth Congressional District of Arizona, we know what you're going through: the life of a 9-year-old who wanted to be a student council representative and was elected to that, Christina Taylor Green; Federal Judge John Roll, father and grandfather; Phyllis Schneck, a former Jerseyite who still loved the New York Giants who, as you may know, play in New Jersey; Gabriel Zimmerman, commander of outreach, who did such a great job for her; and two 76-year-olds, Dorothy Morris and Dorwan Stoddard, who shielded his wife so that she would live.
I thank the leadership for bringing forth this resolution, first acknowledging the victims of the tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, and also condemning the act of violence which was a product of hatred that threatens the democracy of this Nation in which all
can participate and in which intimidation and threats of violence cannot silence the voices of any American. Congresswoman Giffords, her staff members, and constituents were exercising this very privilege on Saturday, January 8, as well as the right afforded to all of us under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
It is ironic that gun violence has, throughout our history, brought down leaders--Abraham Lincoln, 150 years ago, who said all people should be free; our President, John F. Kennedy in 1963, during that time; his brother, Bobby Kennedy, 5 years later; Mohandas Gandhi, who brought India into independence; Tom Mboya, a Kenyan who talked about a united Africa; Yitzhak Rabin, who, if he had lived, I think there would be peace in the Middle East; and then, of course, Dr. Martin Luther King.
So as we think about the tragedy of so many outstanding Americans who have lost their lives, I implore each and every one of us to continue in the spirit of unity, support, and love that often overflows during tragic events. May we continue in such spirits to prevent further acts, for we all know that only love drives out hatred and only good drives out evil.