Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016
Floor Speech
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Ms. HIRONO. I thank the Senator from Connecticut for yielding his time on the floor for a question, and I want to join all the people of Hawaii in expressing our deep sadness and condolences to the families and friends of all those who lost their lives and who were injured in this tragedy in Orlando. Our entire country shares in your grief.
Like everyone who has spoken today, I am saddened and outraged by what occurred in Orlando this past weekend. One of the victims, Kimberly ``K.J.'' Morris, moved to Orlando from Hawaii just 2 months ago to take care of her mother and grandmother in Florida. K.J.'s grandmother Emma Johnson said:
Knowing her, she would be trying to help everybody get out instead of running for her life. That is the type of person she is.
The lives K.J. and others led were cut tragically short. Meanwhile, Congress has been unable and unwilling to act to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them.
I commend my colleague from Connecticut for his leadership on this important issue. He has been on the floor of the Senate week after week, month after month, calling on us to enact sensible gun legislation to keep our communities safe and to save lives.
I shared a transition office with Senator Murphy in the days following the Newtown attack, and I saw his dedication and passion on this issue firsthand.
In his first speech on the Senate floor, the Senator from Connecticut said:
I never imagined that my maiden speech would be about guns or gun violence. Just like I could never imagine I would be standing here in the wake of 20 little kids having died in Sandy Hook or six adults who protected them. But sometimes issues find you.
We all share his heartbreak that, of all issues, this is the one that found him. But I am proud to stand with him and with all my colleagues and with all the children, families, and communities affected by the gun violence epidemic in our country.
I agree with my colleague wholeheartedly when he says that it is no longer the time for thoughts, for prayers, for reflection; it is time for action.
In Hawaii, we have one of the lowest firearm death rates in the entire country. This is not an accident. Our elected leaders in the Hawaiian community have recognized that our laws should balance the interests of responsible gun owners with the interests of public safety.
Of course, we need to do more--so much more--on the Federal level. I supported the Manchin-Toomey bill to close the gaping loopholes in our background check system before guns can be purchased, and I strongly support Senator Feinstein's bill to prevent people on the terror watch list from purchasing a gun.
Now is the time for action on these measures today, on this bill before us. Otherwise, the carnage in our country will continue. This year alone, 6,093 people have been killed by guns in our country. This includes 125 people who were killed by guns in the 3\1/2\ days since Orlando. So 125 more people have died since Orlando.
If we stood here and provided 6,093 victims a minute of silence, we would be standing here for 4 days, 5 hours, and 33 minutes. Moments of silence are not enough.
I wish to ask my colleague from Connecticut a question. What kind of message are we sending to communities around the country if we once again do nothing to make our country safer?
(Mr. ROUNDS assumed the Chair.)
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Ms. HIRONO. I thank the Senator for his response. What could be more fundamental a job for government than to keep our people and our communities safe.
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