Expressing Sense of House Regarding Arizona Shooting

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution that recognizes the tragedy in Tucson on Saturday. I'm deeply shocked and saddened, and I'm praying for Gabby, her family, staff, and the other victims of this senseless act of violence.

In times like these, words often fail to describe our anguish and pain. As a fellow Member of the class of 2006, I've gotten to know Congresswoman Giffords well and have developed enormous respect for her intellect and her love for this country.

She and I have served together on the House Armed Services Committee. And she was very gracious on the morning of President Obama's swearing in. She offered to share her blanket with me as we both braved the cold during the inauguration. We kept each other warm, and we had warm dialogue and happy moments.

Gabby and her staff were performing a fundamental duty of a Member of Congress: That is listening to the concerns of her constituents. Our democracy depends on this type of open and informal meeting of elected officials and the people that they serve. We cannot let this cowardly act of violence prevent us from engaging with our constituents. I encourage my colleagues to take appropriate caution but to continue holding constituent meetings and do the job we were elected to do without fear. To do otherwise would allow the gunman a small taste of victory and would diminish our democracy and dishonor the victims of this senseless act.

I look forward to Gabby's speedy recovery and to working with her on the Armed Services Committee again soon.

And I would like to say a few words about Federal Judge John Roll, who lost his life on Saturday. Judge Roll was with Congresswoman Giffords the day of the shootings to press for funding to relieve overcrowding in his district.

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MR.JOHNSON of Georgia. Judge Roll had been a lifetime servant of his community and his State, 63 years old. And as Justice John Roberts said, Judge Roll's death is a somber reminder of the importance of the rule of law and the sacrifices of those who work to secure it.

Finally, I would like to recognize the other victims. I won't name them, and I do not know them personally, but I want to express my sympathy and condolences to their families.

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