Gun Violence in Illinois

Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, as we work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, we must not forget our Nation's epidemic of gun violence that kills over 100 Americans every day.

Even during the holiday season, the deadly toll of shootings has continued.

On the day after Christmas, a gunman opened fire at a bowling alley restaurant in Rockford, IL, killing three and wounding three more. Mayor Tom McNamara has shown real leadership in this crisis. I ask unanimous consent that his statement be printed in the Record following my remarks.

Thomas Furseth, Dennis Steinhoff, and Jerome Woodfork were murdered in that shooting. Among the wounded victims were a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.

We mourn the lives we lost and pray for all the victims and their families.

We also give thanks to the first responders who so often rush toward the sound of gunfire so they can save as many lives as they can.

In this case, officers from the Rockford Police Department arrived at the scene within 1 minute of the 911 calls and took the shooter into custody. Their conduct may sound routine to some, but make no mistake, their lives were at risk, and their courage was exceptional. We should never take the valor of so many in law enforcement for granted.

In the city of Chicago, at least 30 people were shot, 8 fatally, during the Christmas weekend.

The victims included a 57-year-old man who was killed while driving in his car, a young man killed while standing in a park at 9 in the morning, and a 24-year-old woman killed while sitting in a parked car.

We mourn these victims and pray for their families and for the wounded. But we must also dedicate ourselves to reducing these deadly shootings and to making our streets, our schools, and our neighborhoods safer.

This is a national problem. According to the Gun Violence Archive, on Christmas Day and the day after, there were six mass shootings across the country, defined as an incident where at least four people were shot. There have been 23 such shootings so far in December. Has this wanton, deadly violence become so routine that we are numb to it until it touches our homes and our families?

We must do better. Have we become so indifferent to gun violence in America that Senators in the highest legislative body in our land refuse to try to make our Nation safer? We must work for reforms like universal background checks and cracking down on illicit gun trafficking. And we must work to support children and families who have faced violent trauma and to address disparities in healthcare and economic opportunity that contribute to increased violence.

Too many funerals, too many tears, too many lives lost to the scourge of gun violence.

We must do better.

as follows:

Email From Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara Re Dec. 26 Shooting

Dear Friend,

As we all know, it has been such a difficult year and now a tragic week for our city. Last Saturday, three people lost their lives in a horrific and random act of violence at Don Carter Lanes, a long-time anchor of our community. Three others sustained serious injuries in the attack, with two of them still fighting for their lives. As we move to the conclusion of what has already been an arduous year, we find ourselves coming together to support the families who lost their loved ones, the survivors and their families, and the employees and owners of Don Carter Lanes.

Don Carter Lanes is a staple in Rockford and has been for decades. It's a family-owned business that hosts tournaments, charity fundraisers, birthday parties and also is a long-time supporter of our business community. This is a difficult time for owner Brad Sommer, the employees, and the entire bowling family. I know we will come together as a community to support them during this time.

Rockford is at its best when times are tough and already we've seen examples of this in the wake of Saturday night's incident. The Rockford Police officers who responded within one minute of the first 911 call are heroes who ran toward the danger. They entered the building quickly and without hesitation to protect lives and apprehend the suspect. We should all be grateful for their actions. GoFundMe Fundraiser

While working through the trauma of this incident, the owners of Don Carter Lanes set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to benefit the shooting victims and families. You can donate by visiting: https://gofund.me/62caa4df. Illinois Bank & Trust Care Fund

And, Miracle Mile Rockford, a business association serving owners, neighborhood groups and residents in the area around Don Carter Lanes, has set up a care fund in partnership with Illinois Bank & Trust to accept donations to benefit the families impacted by the shootings. IBT has begun the fund with a generous $5,000 donation and community donations can be made at any IBT location or via online or mobile banking. Click Here to donate or for more info.

While last week's events are heartbreaking, we can all be proud of and heartened by the reaction of our community. Thank you for your continued support of my work as your mayor and for your support of our great city.

Tom

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