Expressing Sense of House Regarding Arizona Shooting
Floor Speech
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Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution and join my dear colleagues and on behalf of the people of northern Ohio, who join citizens across our Nation in pouring out compassion and healing to the families and citizens of Arizona who have been so harmed and wounded at liberty's doorstep, the U.S. House of Representatives.
Let our prayers and comfort flow to the victims, to the healers, to those who must carry forward with full memory and understanding of what has transpired and why. Let us strive to do and to be so much better as a people. Our collective feeling of brotherly and sisterly love and the unity that flows from it holds the power to heal.
We all feel that desire. Our constituents feel that desire. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, our beloved colleague, is fighting to show us the way forward. We pray for her and her family. We pray for all victims and their families. We pray for all those who are taking this difficult journey with them.
What a remarkable young woman Gabby is. She represents the highest aspirations of America. She is kind, talented, highly motivated, effervescent and so in love with her husband, Mark. We know Gabby is a fighter and so very enjoyable to be with.
We embrace her, her family, her staff with the same affection as would she. And if Gabby were able at this moment, we know she would be embracing the victims of the fallen and their loved ones.
This is a moment for America to take stock of itself. No one should have to endure what these citizens have had to endure. Frankly, no one should have had to endure the mean-spirited and inciteful political campaigns Gabby did.
In the sweep of history, this attack was an attack on liberty. It desecrates our worth as a people. We must all search our souls. How could such a heinous act transpire?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I yield the gen tle lady an additional 30 seconds.
Ms. KAPTUR. If the evidence shows that unaddressed mental illness, coupled with guns and disturbing Internet postings were contributing factors, as when two Capitol Police officers were gunned down just a decade ago outside this Chamber, then Congress must finally, finally engage that which to date it has been unwilling to fully embrace and understand. When human tragedy falls at your knees, do you look away, or do you stoop to pick up the pieces and ask why? Why?
May God bless America. May the campaigns of 2012 be conducted in a manner that brings credit to our Nation's highest aspirations, mindful of the suffering that has occurred. And may God give America and her leaders and her people great wisdom in the days ahead.
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