[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 197 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 730--CONDEMNING THE TRAGIC MASS SHOOTING IN THOUSAND 
OAKS, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING ALL OF THE PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE HORRIFIC 
   EVENT, AND THANKING LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS, AND EMERGENCY 
MEDICAL TEAMS FOR THEIR COURAGEOUS EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO THE ATTACK AND 
                               SAVE LIVES

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Ms. Harris) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 730

       Whereas, on November 7, 2018, a mass shooting took place at 
     the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, 
     where residents and students were enjoying a night of country 
     music and dancing;
       Whereas many individuals were wounded and 12 innocent 
     people were tragically killed in the attack, including--
       (1) students;
       (2) a law enforcement officer;
       (3) veterans; and
       (4) a survivor of the mass shooting that took place at the 
     Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, in October 
     2017 and at which 58 people were tragically killed;
       Whereas the people of California and the United States are 
     thankful to law enforcement officials, firefighters, and 
     emergency medical teams for their quick response to the 
     shooting;
       Whereas the attack was committed by a gunman armed with 
     smoke bombs and a Glock semiautomatic pistol equipped with a 
     high-capacity ammunition magazine;
       Whereas the shooting in Thousand Oaks is the deadliest mass 
     shooting in the State of California since the 2015 terror 
     attack in San Bernardino that took the lives of 14 people;
       Whereas Thousand Oaks is considered one of the safest 
     cities in the United States by the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation, demonstrating that no community in the United 
     States is safe from the threat of gun violence;
       Whereas mass shootings are an increasingly pervasive danger 
     in the United States and threaten schools, theaters, malls, 
     offices, bars, concerts, and places of worship; and
       Whereas the people of Thousand Oaks have now joined the 
     ever-growing list of communities that have been forced to 
     endure a mass shooting: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the deadly mass shooting at the Borderline Bar 
     and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, that occurred on 
     November 7, 2018, and tragically cut short the lives of 12 
     beautiful people;
       (2) expresses deepest condolences to the families of the 
     victims and offers continued support to--
       (A) the people injured in the attack; and
       (B) the Thousand Oaks community as the community begins the 
     long process of healing and recovering from the tragedy;
       (3) honors the lives and memories of the victims lost in 
     the tragedy;
       (4) honors the families of the victims that are now working 
     to rebuild their lives;
       (5) recognizes the service of Ventura County Sheriff 
     Sergeant Ron Helus, who was killed in the attack when bravely 
     rushing onto the scene to confront the shooter;
       (6) applauds the dedication of the law enforcement 
     officials, firefighters, and emergency medical teams who 
     saved precious lives through service and care during and 
     after the attack; and
       (7) reaffirms the continuing commitment of the Senate--
       (A) to protect the public safety of the people of the 
     United States; and
       (B) to support the recovery of all of the people impacted 
     by the horrific attack in Thousand Oaks, California.

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a Senate 
Resolution honoring the victims of the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, 
California.
  On November 7, 2018, a shooter armed with a semiautomatic pistol and 
high-capacity ammunition magazine attacked the Borderline Bar and 
Grill. Borderline is known as a popular meeting place for residents and 
country music fans. That night was a ``college night,'' and students 
had gathered there for a night of music and dancing.
  What happened next was the deadliest mass shooting in California 
since the 2015 terror attack in San Bernardino. Twelve people lost 
their lives that night in Thousand Oaks. They included students, 
military veterans, and 27 year old Telemachus Orfanos, who was a 
survivor of the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas.
  Just think about that for a moment. A survivor of the deadliest mass 
shooting in our Nation's history lost his life in another mass shooting 
a year later.
  Ventura County Sheriff Sergeant Ron Helus also lost his life that 
night. He was one of the first law enforcement officers on the scene, 
and he gave his life confronting the assailant and protecting his 
community. Thousand Oaks is one of the safest cities in America. If an 
attack like this can happen there, it can happen anywhere.
  This Resolution condemns the terrible violence experienced by the 
Thousand Oaks community and honors the memory of those who we have 
lost. This Resolution also recognizes the efforts of law enforcement, 
firefighters, and emergency medical teams, whose steadfast dedication 
and service to the victims and survivors in Thousand Oaks undoubtedly 
saved lives.
  Finally, this Resolution reaffirms our commitment to ensure that the 
victims' families and those who were injured receive the assistance 
they need.
  Mr. President, our Nation suffers one mass shooting after another. We 
no longer have time to grieve before gun violence devastates another 
community. Thousand Oaks has now joined the ever growing list of 
communities across America that are mourning the loss of loved ones 
from this ongoing epidemic. I call upon all of my Republican colleagues 
to work with us and do everything we can to prevent another attack.
  I also ask that each member of this chamber remember the victims, 
their families, the survivors, and the entire community of Thousand 
Oaks, and continue to hold them in their hearts.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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