[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                Anniversary of Pulse Nightclub Shooting

  Mr. President, today marks the 3-year anniversary of the Pulse 
nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL. On that horrible night, 49 people 
were killed, 53 wounded and many more forever changed in an unspeakable 
act of terror.
  The shooting was traumatic not only as an act of brutal violence, but 
as a hate crime against the LGBTQ community. The shooter chose the 
Pulse nightclub; drove a long way specifically to Pulse. And he did it 
in order to target innocent people for the simple reason of being who 
they were.
  Today, our hearts are with the victims' families, with the first 
responders, and with the city of Orlando. We also cannot help but 
remember that we are the only nation in the developed world where mass 
shootings happen with such regularity, many of them driven by hate. We 
will never be able to root out all the evil, malice, and hate in our 
society, but I also know that we will never see a great reduction in 
gun violence or in hate crimes if we do nothing. So as we remember the 
victims of Pulse, let us also act. Let us consider legislation to 
improve common sense gun safety.
  We have a bill ready, sent to us by the House months ago, to fix 
loopholes in our federal background check system. But Leader McConnell 
has not allowed it to reach the floor. Why not?
  Why is it one of the many forgotten bills of his legislative 
graveyard? Are Republicans so unwilling to buck the gun lobby that they 
will ignore a bill supported of 90 percent of Americans, the majority 
of Republicans, the majority of gun owners? Something needs to change. 
My Republicans friends need to break out of the vise grip of the NRA.
  I urge Leader McConnell to get this Chamber working again for the 
good of the American people. Commonsense background checks would be a 
great place to start--today of all days.