[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BUFFALO, NEW YORK, SHOOTING

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, 2 years ago today, barbarity descended 
upon the ``City of Good Neighbors.'' My heart, my soul, and my spirit 
are with the people of Buffalo, NY, today, as they observe the second 
tragic anniversary of the shooting at the Tops supermarket. In the span 
of just a few minutes, 10 precious lives were extinguished in a 
senseless act of hatred from a White supremacist.
  Racism is America's original sin. Our work will never be done until 
we do everything to rid our society of this vicious evil.
  May God watch over the souls of those who died 2 years ago today. May 
those of us who remember them find strength and courage and the will to 
prevent tragedies like this in the future.
  America has tragically endured many more senseless shootings since 
the massacre in Buffalo. Gun violence is one of America's gravest 
societal ills, and it seems to be increasing.
  But 2 years ago, we also learned that the situation is not entirely 
hopeless, because after the advent of what happened in Buffalo, in 
Uvalde, and in some other places, Democrats and Republicans actually 
joined together to pass the first gun safety bill in 30 years--the 
first since the Brady bill, which I offered way back, a long time ago, 
when I was in the House. This is the first one since then.
  Later this month, the administration will bring into effect one of 
the key elements of our bill by expanding background checks and closing 
loopholes for online sales and gun shows. Our rule expanding background 
checks shows change is possible when both sides work together, even if 
progress is hard and halting. A few years ago, the announcement would 
have been unimaginable.
  We are never going to be able to fully heal the harms unleashed by 
gun violence, but we can honor those we lost by continuing the work to 
make mass shootings a thing of the past. We have a long way to go, but, 
today, as we remember those who tragically died in Buffalo, let us 
recommit to keep going, no matter what it takes.

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