DOCSLIB.ORG

Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 113 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 113 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 159 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013 No. 22 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was tion, and that is the $28 million a day Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, called to order by the Speaker. we are spending to rebuild Afghani- one of the few areas where Washington f stan. We could use that $28 million a agrees with the general public is that day to fix our own roads and our own our current path is not sustainable. It MORNING-HOUR DEBATE schools right here in America. is not merely a case of spending too The SPEAKER. Pursuant to the Yesterday on C–SPAN, I heard the much or taxing too little, although we order of the House of January 3, 2013, Special Inspector General for Afghan need to control spending and we must the Chair will now recognize Members Reconstruction, John Sopko, speak and will be raising revenue to meet the from lists submitted by the majority about how much money we are spend- needs of an aging and growing popu- and minority leaders for morning-hour ing in Afghanistan and the fact that it lation. debate. is impossible to give the American tax- The key is to do business differently, The Chair will alternate recognition payers an account of where the money to extract more value out of our pro- between the parties, with each party is going. I think Mr. Sopko and his grams. We need to have the courage to limited to 1 hour and each Member team are doing the best they can; but pivot, to do things better, to not follow other than the majority and minority taxpayers are still being shortchanged, the reflex of the usual economic and leaders and the minority whip limited especially with the looming issue of se- political groups fighting to continue to to 5 minutes each, but in no event shall questration and a pending continuing protect the status quo and the con- debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m. resolution. tinuing trend lines. In a world already impacted by cli- f I hope that my colleagues in the House can join in the effort to bring mate change and global weather insta- AFGHANISTAN our troops home by the end of 2013 and bility, these forces are going to inten- The SPEAKER. The Chair recognizes to put an end to the wasteful spending sify. One of the best examples of why the gentleman from North Carolina in Afghanistan. Most importantly, we must change is how we deal with re- (Mr. JONES) for 5 minutes. above all else, put an end to the loss of engineering nature as a response to Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, this past American lives. I will quote from my natural disasters. Sunday when I turned 70 years of age, friend, former commandant of the I salute Governor Cuomo for the use I read in the North Carolina paper, United States Marine Corps: of some of the Hurricane Sandy money known as the News and Observer, the What do you say to the mother, father, from the Federal Government to move article that I would like to quote: wife of the last soldier or marine killed in people out of harm’s way, not just Afghanistan? More than 100 family members, friends and throw good money after bad by relo- uniformed servicemembers marched slowly My question is, Was it worth it? My cating and rebuilding in exactly the and quietly Friday down a hill at Arlington answer is, No, not one life is worth it same way, in exactly the same place, National Cemetery following Army Sergeant to be lost in Afghanistan. It is time to where nature repeatedly shows that Aaron X. Wittman’s coffin, draped with an bring our troops home. people are not wanted. American flag and carried on a horse-drawn Mr. Speaker, this poster beside me I was before the Rules Committee ar- caisson. shows a casket on top of a caisson get- guing for greater reform in the Federal Mr. Speaker, there are probably not ting ready to walk to the grave at Ar- spending, but the Governor is pointing many Members of Congress or Ameri- lington National Cemetery. in the right direction. cans who know that Sergeant Wittman May God continue to bless our This week we are watching another became the first American to lose his troops, our men and women in uniform. chapter in the same drama play out in life in Afghanistan in 2013. May God continue to bless America. the lower Mississippi, where there is an I do not know how many more Amer- And please, God, touch the hearts of argument to continue the self-defeat- icans will have to die between now and those in the House and let’s bring our ing effort to fortify the Mississippi the end of 2014. One American life is al- troops home in 2013. River, closing a gap in the levee, spend- ready one too many. We have done f ing hundreds of millions of dollars to enough in Afghanistan. It will never prevent an area in the flood plain from change, as history has proven time and MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVEE flooding every now and then. time again. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. The Federal Government has already Obviously, there is nothing more im- HULTGREN). The Chair recognizes the made periodic flooding in that area as portant than an American life. But gentleman from Oregon (Mr. BLU- part of its relief valve, to take the ex- there is a second part of this sad situa- MENAUER) for 5 minutes. cess water and avoid more flooding b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H433 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 23:30 Feb 12, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A12FE7.000 H12FEPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H434 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 12, 2013 elsewhere. Failing to allow nature to Union address to a joint session of Con- economic growth in countries like take its course invites a bigger disaster gress. Greece and Spain and other parts of as more and more water is forced into Article ll, Section 3 of the Constitu- the European Union. the narrow fortified walls of the Mis- tion requires that the President, who- President Obama took office on Jan- sissippi. ever it may be, shall, from time to uary 20, 2009, and the Nation’s total Think about how we have shortened time, give to Congress information on debt on that day was $10.6 trillion. and narrowed that river. We haven’t re- the State of the Union. George Wash- Today, it is over $16.5 trillion. The duced the amount of water; we’ve just ington, the first President, addressed President has drastically increased this reduced the areas where it can go. It the joint session of Congress, but country’s debt in a mere 4-year span; in makes the inevitable flooding worse. Thomas Jefferson and each succeeding fact, it has increased by over 45 per- Building a levee is simply going to President up until 1913 presented a cent. However, it should be pointed out move it a little further downstream. written statement of the State of the that he and he alone is not responsible The solution is to allow the river to Union to the House and Senate. So for all this dramatic increase in debt. go where nature wants it, not encour- from 1801 until 1913, Presidents sub- Every person that has served in the age farmers to cultivate even more mitted a written State of the Union, U.S. Congress in the recent past or land that will be vulnerable to crop and on April 8, 1913, Woodrow Wilson, today, House Members and Senate loss, more disaster relief, more crop in- like George Washington, addressed a Members, are also responsible for the surance loss, and to take away increas- joint session of Congress, and that has spending that we have approved. Also, ingly scarce wildlife habitat for the been the manner of our State of the those people who serve in the executive millions of Americans who would like Union by every President since, with branch of government are also respon- to hunt and fish. Done right, this can the exception of Herbert Hoover. sible. be a virtuous cycle. It saves tax dol- Today, I am asking for another little Just to give you a few examples, 9 or lars, improves the environment, re- change in the State of the Union. I 10 months ago, the Department of En- duces the damage from flooding and all think that we should consider a re- ergy built about 12 new buildings over the attendant costs. quirement that the President, on a day here on The Mall, across from the Jef- It is a classic example of where the that coincides with the State of the ferson Memorial, for a solar exhibit. It Federal Government should learn from Union, also have the Federal Govern- stayed there for about 10 months, and 200 years’ experience of trying to engi- ment make a formal declaration of na- then it was torn down. No one really neer the Mississippi River and instead tional debt.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Public Comments
    Timestamp Meeting Date Agenda Item First and Last Name Zip Code Representing Comments It is inappropriate to use an obviously biased company for Arizona’s redistricting mapping process. Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama should have zero say in what our maps look like, and these companies are funded by them at the national level. We want you to hire the National Demographics Corporation – Douglas Johnson in order to assure Arizonans of fair representation and elections. The “Independent” Review Council should make amends for ten years of incompetence and corruption. The commissioners met as many as five times at the home of the AZ 4/27/2021 9:12:25 April 27, 2021 Redistricting Marta 85331 Democratic Party’s Executive Director! It is inappropriate to use an obviously biased company for Arizona’s redistricting mapping process. Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama should have zero say in what our maps look like, and these companies are funded by them at the national level. We want you to hire the National Demographics Corporation – Douglas Johnson in order to assure Arizonans of fair representation and elections. The “Independent” Review Council should make amends for ten years of incompetence Redistricting and corruption. The commissioners met as many as five times at the home of the AZ 4/27/2021 9:12:47 April 27, 2021 Company Michael MacBan 85331 Democratic Party’s Executive Director! I would l ke to request that the company to be hired is the National Demographics Corporation – Douglas Johnson, in order to assure Arizonans fair representation and redistricting elections. mapping It would be inappropriate to use a biased company for the redistricting mapping process.
    [Show full text]
  • Democratic Erosion in Arizona and New Mexico By
    Democratic Erosion in Arizona and New Mexico A comparative analysis on the divergence of border states over time. Capstone Thesis with Professor Sperber by: Cristin Espinoza Published March 2018 at the University of Denver 1. Introduction. Whereas former US Supreme Court Chief Justice Brandeis once described US states as laboratories of democracy, recent scholarship on democratic erosion calls for scholars to reconsider the degree to which US states may also serve as laboratories for authoritarian practices (Levitsky & Ziblatt, 2018). In this paper, I seek to advance the understanding of democratic erosion. First, I establish empirical variation in the level of democratic erosion across two US southern border states: Arizona and New Mexico. I also demonstrate that although journalistic accounts often emphasize the role of demography and geography as determinants of voter suppression, redistricting, populist rhetoric, and even racial profiling practices in Arizona, the aforementioned factors are more similar than different across Arizona and New Mexico. Instead, I evaluate the hypothesis that long-run historical differences have influenced democratic erosion in these cases in ways previously overlooked. Specifically, I consider whether stronger Native American defense against white settlement in Arizona constituted a critical juncture that led to significantly more exclusive and ethnically charged state-level politics in Arizona than in neighboring New Mexico. To evaluate this hypothesis rigorously, I consider additional, competing hypotheses, including the possibility that rapid growth of Arizona’s older white population in recent decades, or differences in recent immigration flows may have steered the state in a less democratic direction than its neighbor. I find little evidence that these factors can explain what I demonstrate are longer-run political differences across state lines.
    [Show full text]
  • Administration of Barack Obama, 2011 Remarks on the Shootings In
    Administration of Barack Obama, 2011 Remarks on the Shootings in Tucson, Arizona January 8, 2011 As many of you are aware, earlier today a number of people were shot in Tucson, Arizona, including several who were meeting at a supermarket with their Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords. We are still assembling all the facts, but we know that Representative Giffords was one of the victims. She is currently at a hospital in the area, and she is battling for her life. We also know that at least five people lost their lives in this tragedy. Among them were a Federal judge, John Roll, who has served America's legal system for almost 40 years, and a young girl who was barely 9 years old. I've spoken to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and offered the full resources of the Federal Government. A suspect is currently in custody, but we don't yet know what provoked this unspeakable act. A comprehensive investigation is currently underway, and at my direction, Director Bob Mueller is en route to Arizona to help coordinate these efforts. I've also spoken to the Democratic and Republican leaders in the House. Gabby Giffords was a friend of mine. She is not only an extraordinary public servant, but she is also somebody who is warm and caring. She is well liked by her colleagues and well liked by her constituents. Her husband, Mark Kelly, is a Navy captain and one of America's valiant astronauts. It's not surprising that today Gabby was doing what she always does: listening to the hopes and concerns of her neighbors.
    [Show full text]
  • How America Went Haywire
    Have Smartphones Why Women Bully Destroyed a Each Other at Work Generation? p. 58 BY OLGA KHAZAN Conspiracy Theories. Fake News. Magical Thinking. How America Went Haywire By Kurt Andersen The Rise of the Violent Left Jane Austen Is Everything The Whitest Music Ever John le Carré Goes SEPTEMBER 2017 Back Into the Cold THEATLANTIC.COM 0917_Cover [Print].indd 1 7/19/2017 1:57:09 PM TerTeTere msm appppply.ly Viistsits ameierier cancaanexpexpresre scs.cs.s com/om busbubusinesspsplatl inuummt to learnmn moreorer . Hogarth &Ogilvy Hogarth 212.237.7000 CODE: FILE: DESCRIPTION: 29A-008875-25C-PBC-17-238F.indd PBC-17-238F TAKE A BREAK BEFORE TAKING ONTHEWORLD ABREAKBEFORETAKING TAKE PUB/POST: The Atlantic -9/17issue(Due TheAtlantic SAP #: #: WORKORDER PRODUCTION: AP.AP PBC.17020.K.011 AP.AP al_stacked_l_18in_wide_cmyk.psd Art: D.Hanson AP17006A_003C_EarlyCheckIn_SWOP3.tif 008875 BLEED: TRIM: LIVE: (CMYK; 3881 ppi; Up toDate) (CMYK; 3881ppi;Up 15.25” x10” 15.75”x10.5” 16”x10.75” (CMYK; 908 ppi; Up toDate), (CMYK; 908ppi;Up 008875-13A-TAKE_A_BREAK_CMYK-TintRev.eps 008875-13A-TAKE_A_BREAK_CMYK-TintRev.eps (Up toDate), (Up AP- American Express-RegMark-4C.ai AP- AmericanExpress-RegMark-4C.ai (Up toDate), (Up sbs_fr_chg_plat_met- at americanexpress.com/exploreplatinum at PlatinumMembership Business of theworld Explore FineHotelsandResorts. hand-picked 975 atover head your andclear early Arrive TerTeTere msm appppply.ly Viistsits ameierier cancaanexpexpresre scs.cs.s com/om busbubusinesspsplatl inuummt to learnmn moreorer . Hogarth &Ogilvy Hogarth 212.237.7000
    [Show full text]
  • A Comparison of Responses to Political Mass Shootings in the United States and Norway
    Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations Sociology & Criminal Justice Summer 2016 What Can State Talk Tell Us About Punitiveness? A Comparison of Responses to Political Mass Shootings in The United States and Norway Kimberlee G. Waggoner Old Dominion University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/sociology_criminaljustice_etds Part of the Criminology Commons, Scandinavian Studies Commons, and the Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons Recommended Citation Waggoner, Kimberlee G.. "What Can State Talk Tell Us About Punitiveness? A Comparison of Responses to Political Mass Shootings in The United States and Norway" (2016). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Dissertation, Sociology & Criminal Justice, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/6e42-3262 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/sociology_criminaljustice_etds/10 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Sociology & Criminal Justice at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WHAT CAN STATE TALK TELL US ABOUT PUNITIVENESS? A COMPARISON OF RESPONSES TO POLITICAL MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES AND NORWAY by Kimberlee G. Waggoner B.S. May 2009, Northern Arizona University M.S. May 2011, Northern Arizona University A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY August 2016 Approved by: Randolph Myers (Director) Mona J.E. Danner (Member) Tim Goddard (Member) ABSTRACT WHAT CAN STATE TALK TELL US ABOUT PUNITIVENESS? A COMPARISON OF RESPONSES TO POLITICAL MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES AND NORWAY Kimberlee G.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record—House H160
    H160 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 12, 2011 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- that who literally saved lives, GABBY’s woman marries an astronaut, but a ant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further staff members, who were so heroic at love of science and a love of their coun- proceedings on this resolution will be this time, and just the shock that all of try brought them together. She was a postponed. them I know are still going through. champion for NASA and space explo- f But I know that they are really heart- ration before she married Captain ened by the fact that most people in Mark Kelly, but she has become one of RECESS America are just reaching out to them, the greatest advocates for the mission The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- and people are saying, what can I do, of NASA. ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair how can I help, where can I be of serv- In 2007, our economy began to con- declares the House in recess subject to ice to this situation? tract and people lost jobs, and Rep- the call of the Chair. And that’s what we do in America is resentative GIFFORDS stood up to fight Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 42 we come together. We pull together. for them, for help for the Tucson area minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- We say, okay, we need to be Americans and for our great country. It has not cess subject to the call of the Chair.
    [Show full text]
  • Administration of Barack Obama, 2011 Remarks at a Memorial Service For
    Administration of Barack Obama, 2011 Remarks at a Memorial Service for Victims of the Shootings in Tucson, Arizona January 12, 2011 Thank you very much. Please, please be seated. To the families of those we've lost; to all who called them friends; to the students of this university, the public servants who are gathered here, the people of Tucson, and the people of Arizona: I have come here tonight as an American who, like all Americans, kneels to pray with you today and will stand by you tomorrow. There is nothing I can say that will fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts. But know this: The hopes of a nation are here tonight. We mourn with you for the fallen. We join you in your grief. And we add our faith to yours that Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the other living victims of this tragedy will pull through. Scripture tells us: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. On Saturday morning, Gabby, her staff, and many of her constituents gathered outside a supermarket to exercise their right to peaceful assembly and free speech. They were fulfilling a central tenet of the democracy envisioned by our Founders: representatives of the people answering questions to their constituents, so as to carry their concerns back to our Nation's Capital. Gabby called it "Congress on Your Corner," just an updated version of government of and by and for the people.
    [Show full text]
  • HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES—Wednesday, January 12, 2011
    262 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 157, Pt. 1 January 12, 2011 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES—Wednesday, January 12, 2011 The House met at 10 a.m. and was (1) COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.—Mr. Good- Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I object. I called to order by the Speaker. latte, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Mr. King of would like to have the resolution read, Iowa, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Conaway, Mr. f if possible. Fortenberry, Mrs. Schmidt, Mr. Thompson of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Objec- PRAYER Pennsylvania, Mr. Rooney, Mr. Stutzman, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. tion is heard. The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Fincher, Mr. Tipton, Mr. Southerland, Mr. The Clerk will report the resolution. Coughlin, offered the following prayer: Crawford, Mrs. Roby, Mr. Huelskamp, Mr. Mr. PASTOR from Arizona. I with- With the psalmist, we pray for this DesJarlais, Mrs. Ellmers, Mr. Gibson, Mr. draw the objection. Congress and the Nation: Hultgren, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. Schilling, and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there ‘‘Come, let us bless the Lord at all Mr. Ribble. objection to the request of the gen- (2) COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES.—Mr. times. Let praise always be on our lips. tleman from Texas? Bartlett, Mr. Thornberry, Mr. Jones, Mr. There was no objection. If the Lord is your boast, be humble, Akin, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. listen and be moved. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. The resolution was agreed to. Glorify the Lord with me. Together Turner, Mr. Kline, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, A motion to reconsider was laid on let us reverence the Holy Name.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record—Senate S255
    January 26, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S255 a word about our long-term debt. I was Among those who lost their lives There are so many stories of courage immensely gratified the President took were 9-year-old Christina-Taylor and bravery associated with this ac- a firm position to defend Social Secu- Green, Dorothy Morris, Judge John tion. The quick reaction of our police rity. We who are familiar with the ac- Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stod- and other first responders was remark- tual facts know that Social Security dard, and Gabriel Matthew Zimmer- able, not to mention the incredible and has never contributed a dime to our man. extremely rapid care provided by the deficit, never contributed a dime to our Christina-Taylor Green was the 9- doctors and nurses and caregivers in debt, and that it is solvent for more year-old daughter of John and Roxanna Tucson. So in this great tragedy that than a quarter century ahead of us. It Green. She was born on September 11, has taken place, we can be comforted is not an immediate problem, and with 2001. She was a third grader, with an with the knowledge that our citizens very small adjustments it can be never avid interest in government, who was reacted in the way that Americans do— a problem. recently elected to the student council with heroism, with courage, and with In States such as Rhode Island and at Mesa Verde Elementary School. sacrifice. New York, and I suspect Arizona as Dorothy Morris was 76 years old.
    [Show full text]
  • {PDF EPUB} Enough Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence by Gabrielle Giffords Gabrielle Giffords Fast Facts
    Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Enough Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence by Gabrielle Giffords Gabrielle Giffords Fast Facts. Here's a look at the life of former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was seriously wounded in a mass shooting in 2011. Personal. Birth date: June 8, 1970. Birth place: Tucson, Arizona. Birth name: Gabrielle Dee Giffords. Father: Spencer Giffords, El Campo Tire executive and a district school board member. Mother: Gloria Kay (Fraser) Giffords, an author and art conservator. Marriage: Mark Edward Kelly (November 10, 2007-present) Children: Claudia and Claire (stepdaughters) Education: Scripps College, B.A., 1993; Cornell University, Masters in Regional Planning, 1996. Religion: Jewish. Other Facts. Her husband, Mark Kelly, is a retired NASA astronaut and was the commander of the final flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Studied abroad in Chihuahua, Mexico, on a Fulbright Scholarship. Was the youngest woman elected to the Arizona State Senate, at the time. Third woman from Arizona to serve in the US House of Representatives. First Jewish congresswoman from Arizona. Timeline. 2000 - Sells her family's tire business, El Campo Tire Warehouses, to Goodyear Tire. 2000 - Is elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. 2002 - Is elected to the Arizona State Senate. 2004 - Wins reelection to the Arizona Senate. December 2005 - Resigns from office to run for the US House of Representatives. November 7, 2006 - Is elected to the US House of Representatives with 54% of the vote. 2007-January 25, 2012 - Democratic US Representative from Arizona's 8th District. 2008 - Is elected for a second term in the US House of Representatives with 55% of the vote.
    [Show full text]
  • Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Remarks and A
    Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Remarks and a Question-and-Answer Session at CNN's "Guns in America" Town Hall Meeting in Fairfax, Virginia January 7, 2016 CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper. And good evening from George Mason University here in Fairfax, Virginia. We are here tonight to talk about one of the most divisive issues in America today: guns. Their protection is enshrined in the Constitution in the Second Amendment, and gun ownership is an integral part of American history and culture. There are some 30,000 gun deaths in America each year. Two-thirds of them are suicides; one-third of them are homicides. So the question we want to confront tonight is, how you find a balance between protecting the rights of American citizens who want to own guns, but preventing guns from getting into the hands of people who shouldn't have them? We brought together people here tonight who represent really all sides of the issue: gun owners, gun sellers, people who have survived shootings or lost loved ones. Some here believe that having more guns makes us all safer and believe the right to bear arms defines us, preserves us from tyranny, and cannot be compromised in any way. Others here tonight believe just as passionately that more needs to be done to limit the sale of firearms. And we respect all of their views, and we want to hear from as many as we can tonight in the hour ahead. One voice you will not hear from tonight is the National Rifle Association. They're the Nation's largest, most influential and powerful gun rights group.
    [Show full text]
  • Children Victims of Concealed Carry Killers
    Armed Citizens Are Not the Answer to Mass Shootings There are several examples of mass shootings where people with concealed handguns were present and yet unable or unwilling to intervene to stop the shooter or prevent loss of life. In some cases, the permit holder was seriously injured or killed. INLAND REGIONAL CENTER, SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 2, 2015 Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people and wounded 21 more. They were armed with two AR-type assault rifles. Glenn Willwirth owns a business across the street from scene of the shooting and grabbed his .45 caliber handgun and walked toward the Center when told there was an active shooter. Willwirth told CNN that he was able to target the shooters but chose not to fire because of the chaos. In a separate interview with the Boston Herald he explained his actions: “I wasn’t going to travel onto their property to get involved — just because it’s not my property — but I went up to the edge of it and that was as close as I really needed to be getting to the whole situation. If they came at me it would have been a different story.” UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UMPQUA, OREGON, OCTOBER 1, 2015 Chris Harper-Mercer killed nine and wounded another nine. He killed himself after exchanging gunfire with police. Army veteran John Parker was among the UCC students with concealed weapons permits and he had his gun with him when the shooting occurred. Parker was in another building near the shooting with some other students who also were armed.
    [Show full text]