[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E97]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING RICHARD FIERRO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JASON CROW

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 6, 2023

  Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Richard 
Fierro, a survivor of the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs, CO, who 
chose to risk his life to save others, in the face of unspeakable 
violence.
  On the evening of November 19, 2022, Richard and his family were 
enjoying a drag show at Club Q--a nightclub that has long been a safe 
space for members of the LGBTQ+ community. In the blink of an eye, an 
enjoyable night turned deadly.
  After spending 15 years as an officer in the U.S. Army, with combat 
deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, Richard's actions were 
instinctual. Except this wasn't a warzone--this was a night out with 
his family at a bar in his own backyard. As gunfire rang out around 
him, people screamed, and glass shattered, Richard's Army training 
kicked in. He ran toward the shooter--tackling and subduing him.
  Not only did he subdue the gunman, but he also took charge and gave 
orders to those around him--attempting to establish some semblance of 
order amid the chaos. He placed tourniquets on his friends and 
reassured them they would be okay while he yelled to police that the 
shooter was down. There is no doubt in my mind that Richard's heroic 
actions saved countless lives.
  Here in Colorado, we are all too familiar with gun violence and the 
devastating impact it continues to have on our communities. We should 
not still be in mourning when the next mass shooting occurs. We should 
not have to live in fear every time we step outside our homes. Yet time 
and time again, we are forced to rely on the bravery of unsuspecting 
patrons in clubs, restaurants, grocery stores, and dance studios to 
disarm shooters in this country.
  We continue to mourn the lives lost at Club Q: Daniel Aston, Kelly 
Loving, Ashley Paugh, Derrick Rump, and Raymond Green Vance--the 
boyfriend of Richard's daughter. Any loss of life like this is 
senseless and heartbreaking, but in the face of tragedy and unspeakable 
darkness, there are always heroes who rise up and answer the call to 
service. It is an honor to recognize Richard's heroic actions at Club 
Q.