[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 131 (Wednesday, September 7, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             NEVADA TRAGEDY

  Mr. REID. Madam President, yesterday morning a man walked into a 
pancake house in Carson City, NV, our capital, and proceeded to--with, 
I am told, an AK-47--first shoot and kill some poor woman outside the 
pancake house, and he then walked inside and started shooting with this 
automatic weapon and killed three National Guardsmen and another 
innocent person. We have a number of people who are in the hospital, 
and we hope no more die. We are still learning the details of this 
tragedy, but we do know five are dead. The shooter then killed himself 
following this rampage he went on.
  The National Guardsmen--as I understand, there were five of them 
there having breakfast prior to their duties when this madman walked in 
and killed them. One of the five was a woman who was an assistant to 
one of my outstanding employees, a colonel in the Nevada Army National 
Guard. He is an airman, and she was his assistant when he does his duty 
out there. She was killed.
  It is sad, this violence around us, even in little Carson City, NV, 
where citizen soldiers--sacrificing their time to defend our country--
are killed having pancakes at a little restaurant. My thoughts go out 
to the victims, and I appreciate their commitment to Nevada and this 
country.
  What else can you say, Madam President? Your heart goes out to these 
people who are going through such a turmoil today, trying to figure out 
why this happened. It is hard to imagine such a terrible act taking 
place in this quiet little town. The legislature is out of session, 
which is when the town picks up a little bit. There is not much going 
on in Carson City, not as you would have with the buzz of a capital 
when the legislature is in session. I spent three legislative sessions 
in Carson City. My kids went to school in Carson City when I was the 
Lieutenant Governor.
  I wish all the citizens of Carson City well as they begin the process 
of healing after this shocking event.

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