Remembering the Columbine Tragedy

Floor Speech

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Mr. BENNET. Madam President, April 20 marked the 15th anniversary of the tragic shooting at Columbine High School. I come to the floor to honor the memories of the 12 young, innocent students, and beloved teacher we lost, and to recognize the bravery that so many educators and first responders showed on that horrific day.

On the day of the anniversary, Coloradans gathered at Clement Park in Littleton to remember the victims and recommit to preventing these acts of senseless violence from ever happening again. Coni Sanders, the daughter of Coach Dave Sanders who was killed that day, spoke at the gathering. If I could just share a few of her words, I think they ring very true.

She said,

Fifteen years ago, Columbine was a massacre. Columbine was a tragedy. Columbine was synonymous with death. Today, we recognize that Columbine is a community and that even the most violent of hate could not shake us.

Coni's words express the pain we have all been left with in the wake of too many similar tragedies in Colorado and across the country. But her words also remind us of the enduring strength of our communities and the need to do more to combat gun violence in the United States.

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