[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 98 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     CAPITOL SHOOTINGS ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, 8 years ago today, two brave men gave their 
lives in defense of the U.S. Capitol. A plaque in this building 
commemorates their bravery, their names have been etched indelibly upon 
the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial a mile from here, and 
the headquarters of the U.S. Capitol Police now bears their names.
  These memorials are fitting and proper. But they do not do these men 
full justice. We must also remember them in our words and our actions. 
All Members of Congress, all congressional staff, and, indeed, all 
Americans owe a great debt of gratitude to Officer Jacob Joseph 
Chestnut and Detective John Michael Gibson.
  For a few moments, I would like to reflect upon the enormous bravery 
of these two men.
  Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson were both hardworking family 
men. Gibson had three children; Chestnut, five. Gibson found great 
happiness in the exploits of the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins. He 
knew their rosters by heart. Chestnut loved working in his garden. I 
knew both men by sight. I passed Officer Chestnut most every day on my 
way in to work.
  On Friday, July 24, 1998, both men were nearing the end of a busy 
work day. But events unfolded with a quick and horrible speed. At about 
3:40 p.m. police and prosecutors allege that Russell Eugene Weston 
entered the Capitol through the East Entrance. He attempted to evade a 
metal detector and Chestnut stepped into his path to stop him--to 
protect all of us. Weston shot him at point-blank range.
  Weston then allegedly proceeded down the corridor, rushing towards 
the Office of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. 
Gibson, those who were in the office say, warned everyone to get down. 
He yelled ``Drop your weapon'' and exchanged gunfire with Weston. The 
crazed gunman hit Gibson in the leg and the chest. Gibson hit Weston in 
the leg and chest as well. A female tourist got caught in the crossfire 
and suffered serious but fortunately non-life threatening wounds. Both 
men hit the floor, bleeding profusely. Gibson's actions saved lives. As 
one staffer put it at the time, ``Thank God there was a good guy with a 
gun.''
  Sitting in my Dirksen office, I had begun preparations to leave for 
the weekend when I was notified an emergency was unfolding at the 
Capitol. My instincts and my surgical training took over.
  I ran to the East ``Law Library Entrance'' at the Capitol. I saw 
blood all over--a horrible scene. Three bodies lay on the ground. I 
turned my attention to treating them. In the chaos, I didn't recognize 
any of the three.
  I assisted the medical first responders in controlling the 
hemorrhaging and securing an airway, and then helping two of the 
victims into the ambulances. I rode in the ambulance to help control 
the hemorrhage of one of the injured. It turned out that patient was 
the alleged perpetrator.
  All of us should, every day, give thanks for the bravery and 
sacrifices of Officer Jacob Joseph Chestnut and Detective John Michael 
Gibson. Many have contributed funds set up to assist their families and 
rarely a day goes by that I don't remember both of them in my thoughts 
and prayers.
  The shootings that took place on July 24, 1998, were an attack on 
this Capitol, a central symbol of our democracy and, thus, an attack on 
the openness of Congress, and, in turn, upon the very principle of two-
way communication between the people and their elected representatives.
  Two brave men stood up for us all. They defended our democracy 
itself. We will not all be called to the same sort of moral heroism but 
can all learn from their example and all reflect upon their bravery.
  Today, we mourn for them, we pray for the families, we thank them, 
and we remember them.

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