[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 58 (Monday, April 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2228-H2230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF COLORADO SHOOTINGS
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 886) expressing sympathy to the victims and
families of the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado
and Arvada, Colorado, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 886
Whereas on Sunday, December 9, 2007, a man entered the New
Life Church property with the intent to cause harm to members
and guests of the church;
Whereas the attacker shot 5 bystanders at the New Life
Church, killing 2 of them and injuring 3 others;
Whereas the shooting resulted in the tragic loss of
Stephanie Works, 18, and Rachel Works, 16, who lost their
lives from wounds sustained from shots fired by the attacker;
Whereas the attacker wounded David Works, who was still
hospitalized days after the shootings, Judy Purcell, and
Larry Bourbannais;
Whereas Jeanne Assam, a volunteer private security guard,
heroically rushed into harm's way and used her own gun to
stop the shooter, thereby saving the lives of several other
bystanders;
Whereas the quick response of private security, the El Paso
County Sheriff's Office, the Colorado Springs Police
Department, the Colorado Springs Fire Department, the
Colorado Springs SWAT Team, Federal authorities, and medical
professionals limited the danger to the church and local
community;
Whereas this event occurred only hours after another tragic
and fatal shooting, which occurred at the Youth With A
Mission facility, located in Arvada, Colorado;
Whereas the shooting at Youth With A Mission resulted in
the death of Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24;
Whereas the attacker seriously wounded Dan Griebenow and
Charlie Blanch; and
Whereas local first responders in the City of Arvada and in
Jefferson County, Colorado, responded quickly and
professionally, thereby saving wounded individuals: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) offers its heartfelt condolences to the victims and
families of the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, and Arvada, Colorado; and
(2) conveys its gratitude to Jeanne Assam, city and county
officials, as well as the police, fire, sheriff, Federal
authorities, and emergency medical teams whose quick response
saved lives.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms.
Foxx) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.
General Leave
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in the consideration
of H. Res. 886, as amended, which expresses sympathy to the victims and
families of the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado,
and Arvada, Colorado.
House Resolution 886 was introduced by Representative Doug Lamborn
from the State of Colorado on December 18,
[[Page H2229]]
2007, and has the support and cosponsorship of over 50 Members of
Congress.
The measure was considered by the Oversight panel on March 13, 2008,
and was passed by voice vote after having been amended for technical
purposes.
It was only a few short months ago when our country was riveted by
the violent rampage of one individual that left five people seriously
wounded while killing four others. It was a solemn Sunday in December,
December 9, to be exact, when the lives of Judy Purcell, Larry
Bourbannais, Tiffany Johnson, Philip Crouse, Dan Griebenow, Charlie
Blanch and Stephanie, David, and Rachel Works would be forever changed
by a series of tragic events that gripped central Colorado but touched
our entire country.
Many of the persons impacted by the shooting rampage of a disturbed
man were young people who had already chosen honorable and noble paths
of service and faith. In remembering that dreadful day, I must also
mention the heroic actions of Jeanne Assam, a volunteer security guard,
whose swift response led to the wounding and killing of the assailant.
We thank her for her dutiful service that helped prevent an already
disastrous event from escalating further.
Passage of this measure will allow our body an opportunity to
officially express our heartfelt condolences, prayers and sympathies to
the families and victims of the tragic acts of violence that took place
in Colorado Springs and Arvada, Colorado, last year.
Therefore I urge adoption of House Resolution 886, as amended, and
reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1415
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today to urge passage of this resolution recognizing the
tragedy that befell the communities of Colorado Springs and Arvada,
Colorado.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution seeks to take a moment to reflect on the
impact one man's senseless acts of violence can have on a community, a
State and a Nation. On an early Sunday morning, a man entered the New
Life Church and proceeded to open fire. Tragically, the lives of
Tiffany Johnson and Philip Crouse were taken. They were both staff
members of the Youth With A Mission Center, which educates individuals
to be evangelical missionaries overseas. Two other staff members were
seriously injured as well, Dan Griebenow and Charlie Blanch.
This a place of peace where dedicated young men and women are
educated to be Christian missionaries. What happened there on that cold
Sunday morning was a true travesty for those victims and the community
that surrounds them.
Later that afternoon at approximately 1 p.m., the same individual who
opened fire at the Youth With A Mission facility entered the grounds of
the New Life Christian Church and fatally shot two teenagers, Stephanie
and Rachel Works. The shooter also shot and seriously injured their
father, David Works, in the parking lot before he proceeded into the
church. Two others, Judy Purcell and Larry Bourbannais, were also
injured that day. Fortunately for the communities of Colorado Springs
and Arvada, Jeanne Assam, a volunteer private security guard, performed
heroically that afternoon and engaged the shooter when he entered the
church's east entrance.
Jeanne Assam was a former Minneapolis police officer and was licensed
to carry a firearm. She used her education and performed admirably to
protect not only those inside the church, but those in the surrounding
area as well. She was able to slow the gunman down, which ultimately
led to the gunman taking his own life.
One shudders to think of the terror that could have ensued had the
shooter been able to continue unabated. The shooter was later
identified as 24-year-old Matthew Murray. There is only one word that
can describe the acts of Jeanne Assam on that day--heroic.
The quick response by the security team at New Life Christian Church,
who quickly moved to step up security after hearing the news of the
initial shooting in Arvada also deserves praise. In addition, we must
take a moment to thank the first responders on that day. The El Paso
County Sheriff's Office, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the
Colorado Springs Fire Department, the Colorado Springs SWAT team,
Federal authorities, and medical professionals all played a role in
quelling what could have been an even larger massacre.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this
important remembrance.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the gentleman
from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter) for 5 minutes.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and
also the gentlewoman for her kind remarks concerning this day of
tragedy in Colorado. We have had a couple of those, Columbine, 9 years
ago this week, as well as this tragedy that occurred on December 9.
Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness and regret that I rise today to
honor and pay tribute to the victims and families of the tragic acts of
violence that occurred on December 9 at the New Life Church in Colorado
Springs and on the Faith Bible Chapel campus in Arvada, Colorado, with
this resolution.
The senseless acts of violence partially took place in my district at
the Youth With A Mission, YWAM, in the heart of Jefferson County in a
community still reeling from the tragic events of Columbine several
years ago.
The Faith Bible Chapel campus is about a block from where my father-
in-law lives. It is a place I drive by almost every weekend when I am
home. And it is a place in the late hours of December 8 and the early
hours of December 9, a reverse 911 call had to go out to the entire
neighborhood to advise them of the killings that had gone on so nearby.
All four young men and women lost their lives before the psychotic
young gunman turned the gun on himself. This resolution seeks to honor
the memory of these individuals: Tiffany Johnson, who was 26 years old;
Philip Crouse, 24; Stephanie Works and Rachel Works who I believe were
nieces of a friend of mine, John Works, who was a candidate several
years ago for the 7th Congressional District of Colorado, which is the
seat that I now hold.
This bill also seeks to recognize the survivors and the families
victimized, and in particular, Dan Griebenow, Charlie Blanch, David
Works, Judy Purcell, and Larry Bourbannais who were wounded during this
senseless day of killing.
It is important to note that this resolution commends the heroism of
the local first responders and law enforcement officials in the city of
Arvada, Jefferson County, Colorado Springs, and El Paso County who
responded quickly and professionally.
Especially, Jeanne Assam, a volunteer private security guard, who
courageously rushed into harm's way and used her own gun to stop the
shooter, thereby saving the lives of several other bystanders.
We will never know what was going through the mind of Matthew Murray,
the young man who killed these people and wounded several more. We
don't know what possessed his mind to take these senseless acts, but we
do know that the people who were killed here in this particular
incident and the people who were wounded will always stay in our memory
and will be honored by this resolution.
Our Nation can never adequately come to grips with senseless
tragedies like these. Whether it is some kind of care for the
perpetrator in this instance from his psychosis, or whether it is
additional protections that we might give to our churches and our
schools, there are many things that we can do, but it is just a shame
that sometimes, we can't understand the demons that possess people and
cause them to come up with acts of psychotic violence like we have seen
here.
It is my hope that this bill sends a message to the victims of these
tragic events that they will continue to remain in the thoughts of our
Nation, and they will never be forgotten for the events that occurred
on December 9. This bill represents one small step in the process of
healing for our communities affected by this tragedy.
In closing, I wish to thank each of my colleagues in the Colorado
delegation, and especially Representative Doug Lamborn, who represents
the city of Colorado Springs. I want to thank each of the 51 co-
sponsors who join me today in expressing sympathy
[[Page H2230]]
to the victims and families of the heartbreaking acts of violence in
Colorado Springs and Arvada, Colorado, with this resolution, H. Res.
886. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of H. Res. 886.
Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate those who lost
their lives in tragic actV violence last year in Colorado Springs,
Colorado, and Arvada, Colorado. I truly appreciate the support and
friendship from the Colorado delegation in supporting this resolution
and offering our most sincere condolences to the victims and their
families.
On December 9, 2007, a young man targeted two Christian organizations
that resulted in the death of four young people, in addition to the
shooter. Our hearts go out to the family of Stephanie Works, 18, and
Rachel Works, 16, whose lives were tragically ended while at the New
Life Church in Colorado Springs. Further loss of life was prevented by
the heroic acts of Jeanne Assam, an armed volunteer security guard,
whose heroic actions stopped the shooter from inflicting more
devastation. Hours earlier another fatal shooting occurred at a Youth
with a Mission Facility in Arvada, Colorado that resulted in the tragic
loss of Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24.
The personal devastation inflicted on the families of these victims
is unimaginable and has impacted our entire community. We offer this
resolution to honor the memory of those who were lost, offer our
condolences to the affected families, and recognize the courageous
actions of Jeanne Assam in preventing this tragedy from harming more
Coloradans. Our hearts go out to the families who still daily suffer
from the atrocious attacks and we humbly offer our sympathy.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H. Res. 886, ``Expressing sympathy to the victims and families of
the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Arvada,
Colorado.''
This important legislation will honor and memorialize those who were
affected by the tragic events in Colorado Springs and Arvada. On that
fateful day, a gunman took the lives of five people and wounded 5 more,
subsequently taking his own life.
The shootings at New Life Church in Colorado Springs and the Youth
With a Mission Center in Arvada on December 9, 2007, remind us once
again that the wrath of violence can easily destroy the lives of a
congregation gathered in a sanctified establishment. As we reflect on
the lives that were spared, we duly note the actions of Jeanne Assam.
Jeanne Assam, a former police officer and New Life Church member and
security guard, is credited with halting the gunman's spree by shooting
him. Though her gunfire did not kill the perpetrator, her act of
courage and conviction allowed her to halt the gunman's spree,
subsequently preventing the death of more people.
The carnage at the Colorado tragedy commands that we here in this
body take a stand against senseless acts of violence whether here in
our own country or elsewhere around the world. It is long past time for
our national community to declare that injuries inflicted on any member
of the community by another simply based on hate or hatred of
differences pose a threat to the peace and security of the entire
community. For that reason alone, such conduct must be condemned and
punished severely, if not prevented altogether. I hope that the
incident in Colorado does not reflect a larger problem within our
society; however, my optimism is guarded with the reality of an
escalating amount of gun violence in schools, malls, and churches.
Neither the mind nor the heart can contemplate a cause that could
lead a human being to inflict such injury and destruction on fellow
human beings. We can never completely understand why these things
happen; however, we must persevere through the melancholy. The loss of
those lives and innocence is a tragedy which all Americans mourn. In
the face of such overwhelming grief, I hope the families and friends of
those affected can take comfort in the certain knowledge that unearned
suffering is redemptive. My deepest sympathies are with the victims,
their families, and everyone who is affected by this tragic situation.
This devastation reaffirms why we, as public officials, must take steps
to ensure that the United States is a safer environment where acts of
violence based on hate are not tolerated. We cannot sufficiently
articulate the feelings of sorrow that are universally felt. I extend
my prayers and support to the bereaved families during this time of
mourning.
I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important
legislation, and, in-so-doing, showing respect for the lives that were
lost, sacrificed, and spared.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 886, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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