[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8561-8562]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        MASS SHOOTING IN ORLANDO

  Mr. REID. Madam President, everyone is in a state of shock and 
sadness today, following the worst mass shooting in modern American 
history.
  The facts continue to develop--I had a long conversation with the FBI 
this morning--but we do know this much. A shooter pledging allegiance 
to ISIS opened fire at an LGBT locality in Orlando, FL, killing 49 
people and leaving dozens seriously injured. This was an act of terror 
in every sense of the word. This was an attack on the LGBT community 
and all of America.
  My heart goes out to the victims, their families, especially those 
who were killed and wounded, and to the many first responders who were 
on the scene where one police officer was wounded.
  I hope every Member of the House and Senate had time for quiet 
reflection yesterday to ask what we could have done to prevent this 
tragedy. I had time to think about it. I am heartsick. I am basically 
sick by our inaction. It is shameful that the U.S. Senate has done 
nothing--nothing--to stop these mass shootings. Is this what we want 
for America? I don't think so.
  Do we want to live in a country where someone who has sworn 
allegiance to ISIS can walk into a store, buy assault weapons and 
explosives, and murder dozens of Americans in a club or at a school? I 
don't think we do. Is that a country where we want to live? Because 
that is the country where we live now, thanks to the National Rifle 
Association and their cowardly supporters in Congress.
  Last December, the senior Senator from California proposed 
legislation that would prevent FBI terror suspects from purchasing 
firearms and explosives. All but one Republican voted against the 
Feinstein amendment. That means that as of today, FBI terror suspects 
can walk into a gun store and legally purchase assault weapons and 
explosives. It is beyond me how these same Republicans go home knowing 
they voted to let FBI terror suspects continue to buy assault weapons.
  Senate Republicans have voted against expanding background checks, 
limits on the size of ammunition clips, and the assault weapons ban. 
How can these same Republicans campaign for reelection in good 
conscience, knowing they voted to block every sensible bill to address 
gun violence? Not some of them, all of them.
  For example, how can the junior Senator from Florida--who all of a 
sudden has an interest in running for reelection--how can he speak of 
running for office again when he voted to let potential terrorists buy 
assault weapons and explosives? That is how he voted. The junior 
Senator has voted against every gun safety measure. He was quoted as 
saying: Well, with what happened yesterday, I might reconsider. He 
better reconsider his gun votes. He voted against background checks, 
assault weapons ban, and against legislation limiting the size of 
ammunition clips.
  I ask again: Is this what we want for America? Mass shooting after 
mass shooting, and each new attack, it seems, is worse than the 
previous one.
  We still have much to learn about the Orlando shooting, but we know 
one thing for sure. Congress is failing to do anything to prevent these 
mass killings--anything. Why? Because of Republican obstruction. 
Because of Republican obstruction, we are doing nothing. We are failing 
every one of the people killed on Sunday, their families, the whole 
State of Florida--the whole country. We are failing the families. We 
are failing everyone who has died in these mass shootings--and there 
are thousands of them--and those who have lost loved ones to mass 
shootings--thousands of them, I repeat; the injured, tens of thousands.

[[Page 8562]]

  As President Obama said yesterday, ``To actively do nothing is a 
decision as well.'' And my Republican colleagues have made that 
decision: doing nothing.
  It is time again to try to stop the plague of gun violence. We have a 
responsibility as lawmakers to do what we can to prevent these 
shootings, to enact commonsense reforms--nothing radical--that have 
proven to stop these attacks and save lives.
  We should start by closing the loophole that allows terrorists to 
legally purchase weapons and explosives. Remember, everyone, we voted 
on this. Everyone in this Chamber should be able to agree that a 
suspected terrorist shouldn't have guns. Is it more than common sense? 
I don't think so.
  We should do something to expand background checks, ensuring that 
terror suspects and criminals don't slip through the cracks, and we 
should do something to limit the size of weapon magazines and clips. 
There is no reason for gun stores to sell these clips that are that 
big, magazines or drums designed for the mass killing of human beings. 
That is what they are made for--no other purpose. People don't hunt 
with them.
  Our Nation can no longer ignore the fact that every day Americans are 
being gunned down in cold blood. We can no longer ignore the will of 
the people. We shouldn't, at least. We can no longer ignore the will of 
the people.
  The overwhelming majority of voters support these proposals. 
According to a December poll by one of the foremost polling agencies in 
America, nearly 90 percent of Americans are in favor of expanded 
background checks. It doesn't matter what State you go to. This was a 
nationwide poll. In Nevada, Massachusetts, Iowa--it doesn't matter 
where you go. More than 80 percent of Americans want to close so-called 
terror loopholes, preventing people on terror watch lists from 
purchasing firearms. I see my friend from Florida behind me. Of course 
they care, as much as anyone, if not more, today.
  Yet, in spite of the public's demand for action, Senate Republicans 
continue to cower--cower--before the NRA and the Gun Owners of America. 
The NRA is bad--really bad--but Gun Owners of America is even worse 
than bad. These two organizations are competing, seeing just how 
extreme they can be in pushing for more guns and fewer protections. And 
I know, after the statement I am making today, they will send out these 
fundraising calls: Reid is trying to take away our guns. Send us some 
money.
  These two organizations are competing to see how extreme they can be 
in pushing for more guns and fewer protections. Congressional 
Republicans are content just to go along. Republicans are so terrified 
of the extreme right that they refuse to pass legislation supported by 
the vast majority of their own constituents. The NRA and the Gun Owners 
of America mean more to them than the people they represent.
  Do you know what terrifies the American people? It is not the NRA. It 
is not the Gun Owners of America. Mass shootings scare the American 
people. Innocent victims being gunned down at nightclubs and holiday 
parties and schools and movie theaters, that is what scares the 
American people.
  Republicans need to find the backbone to stand up to groups like the 
NRA and Gun Owners of America. Senate Republicans are stalling 
important mental health legislation because they are afraid to talk 
about gun safety measures. Not only are they stalling, but Senate 
Republicans--led by the assistant Republican leader--are even 
threatening to include a provision that weakens the FBI's current 
background check system--which isn't much, to be honest with you--and 
to weaken it more would be speaking volumes.
  We don't need to hear any more of the gun lobby's talking points 
about how more guns are the answer to what is going on in America or 
hiring security guards will solve our Nation's scourge of gun violence. 
The Pulse nightclub in Orlando had security, and there was reportedly 
an armed, off-duty police officer on the scene, but even that didn't 
prevent this tragedy.
  Instead of pushing for more guns, maybe it is time to make it harder 
for terrorists and criminals to get guns. It is time for Congress to do 
something to stop the mass slaughter that is being carried out in our 
communities. How else can we describe it? Are 50 dead people--49 plus 
the killer--49 dead people--is that enough to get our attention? The 
50-odd who were injured, and somebody may be paralyzed, is that enough 
to get our attention?
  It is time for Congress to do something--something--to stop this mass 
slaughter that is being carried out in our communities. Going forward, 
Democrats are going to continue to support and continue to push these 
solutions to our Nation's gun violence epidemic, and we are going to, 
as soon as we can, force a vote on this terror loophole. We are going 
to do this as soon as possible. There is no excuse for allowing 
suspected terrorists to buy guns.
  There is much we can do but not if Republicans aren't serious about 
addressing these problems, and historically it has been proven they do 
not care.
  I hope Republicans will find the courage, like George Voinovich, to 
help us pass meaningful legislation to protect the American people. By 
the way, George Voinovich was a good Republican.
  Madam President, will the Chair announce the business for the rest of 
the day.

                          ____________________