[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 194 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1284-E1285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE VICTIMS OF CLUB Q NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2022

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues, 
Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Congressman Jason Crow, Congressman Joe 
Neguse, and Congressman David Cicilline, to honor the victims of the 
tragic shooting that took place at the Club Q Nightclub in Colorado 
Springs, Colorado on November 19, 2022.
  It has been nearly 1 month since the horrific events that unfolded 
when a shooter, armed with a semiautomatic assault weapon and high-
capacity magazine, entered the popular LGBTQ+ nightclub and opened 
fire, killing 5 people and injuring at least 22 more.
  It was the latest in a growing number of violent attacks targeting 
the LGBTQ+ community throughout the country, and it led the Department 
of Homeland Security to issue a new

[[Page E1285]]

warning about the growing threat facing the LGBTQ+ community here in 
the U.S.
  Let us be clear: no one in this country should have to live in 
constant fear of being attacked for who they are or who they love.
  No one should have to experience the unimaginable pain and suffering 
that so many in our community are now feeling in the wake of this 
senseless attack at Club Q.
  Among those killed in the attack was Ashley Paugh, a 35 year old wife 
and mother of an 11 year old daughter. Ashley was not a member of the 
LGBTQ+ community but had driven to Colorado Springs to spend time with 
friends at the popular club and see a comedian who was performing 
there.
  Raymond Vance was 22 years old and was visiting the club for the 
first time that evening with his longtime girlfriend and her family. 
Raymond, who had just gotten his first job and was excited to have 
received his first paycheck, was there to help his girlfriend and her 
family celebrate the birthday of a longtime friend.
  Kelly Loving was a 40 year old transgender woman from Denver who had 
driven to Colorado Springs for the weekend.
  Daniel Aston and Derrick Rump were both bartenders working at the 
club when the shooting occurred. Daniel, a 28 year old transgender man, 
had moved to Colorado Springs 2 years earlier to be closer to his mom 
and dad and started working at the club, which was just a few minutes 
from his parents' home.
  Derrick, who friends say was always full of smiles, found more than 
just a job at Club Q, he had found a community that he loved and a 
place where he felt he truly belonged.
  Daniel and Derrick were beloved members of the Club Q family, and 
together they helped create a space that felt safe for so many who 
visited there.
  As we take time to honor the memory of those we lost, we also must 
honor the bravery and heroism of those whose actions likely prevented 
even more bloodshed that day.
  Retired U.S. Army veteran, Richard Fierro, who was at the club with 
his family that evening to celebrate the birthday of a friend, and 
Thomas James, who was performing at the club when the shooting began, 
have been widely credited for their heroic actions to subdue the 
shooter and save countless lives.
  We owe them and all those who responded to the scene that evening, 
including local law enforcement, first responders, and civilians, a 
tremendous debt of gratitude.
  We wish all those who were injured in this attack a speedy recovery. 
And we send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of 
those who were lost in this horrific attack.
  The hate-filled rhetoric that's fueling this rise in violent attacks 
against the LGBTQ+ community has no place in our society, and neither 
should the weapons of war being used to carry these awful attacks out.
  At some point, we, as a society, have to come together and say, 
`enough is enough.'
  At some point, we have to realize that the toxic combination of hate 
and access to guns is resulting in deadly attacks across this country, 
and the time to end the hate-filled rhetoric that's demonizing the 
LGBTQ+ community is now.
  Every single member of the LGBTQ+ community deserves to live their 
life openly without fear of hate and violence. And every person in this 
country deserves to live a life free of the constant threat of gun 
violence that we face.
  That's why, today, my colleagues and I are introducing a resolution 
condemning this attack and the growing wave of violence. I'm thankful 
to the House Equality Caucus, the House Gun Violence Prevention Task 
Force, and a number of organizations that helped us draft this 
resolution and who are joining us in pushing for its passage.
  But, condemning these attacks is not enough. The time to act is now.
  We need to get these assault weapons off our streets and ban the sale 
of these high-capacity magazines today.
  Taking these steps will not bring back all those we have lost to gun 
violence, but it will save others from meeting the same violent fate. 
This is our resolve as we continue to fight for commonsense gun safety 
measures.
  We send our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those we lost 
at Club Q. They will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________