[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 103 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRAGEDY IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I rise today to discuss my hometown of 
Baltimore and the city's recovery after the civil unrest related to the 
Freddie Gray case. But first let me say a few words about the 
heartbreaking events in South Carolina. Words are inadequate to express 
the heartache of yet another mass shooting. Gun violence regularly 
takes far too many victims in Baltimore and other cities across the 
country, but to have a place of worship violated in such a hateful way 
is inexplicable.
  My prayers are with the Mother Emanuel AME Church, its congregants, 
and the people of Charleston, SC, at this difficult time. I appreciate 
the Department of Justice's swiftness in opening a hate crimes 
investigation of this tragedy. Despite the alarming frequency of such 
shootings, we as a nation cannot become complacent and immune to the 
pain and anguish caused by these instances.
  Every time a senseless shooting takes place, there should be more and 
more of us who shout to the Heavens in protest as loudly as we can. As 
parents, we have a responsibility to teach our children to focus on 
things that unite all people and to view differences as strengths, 
rather than seeds for hatred and resentment. As lawmakers, we need to 
move from a place of political inertia to stop guns from getting into 
the hands of people who use them for the wrong reasons. We have mourned 
too many good people--men, women, and children--to stand idly by.
  I am pleased State leaders have come together for the removal of the 
Confederate flag from the grounds of South Carolina's statehouse. I 
urge the State legislature to move quickly to permanently remove this 
symbol of intolerance from government facilities.

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