[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8609]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HORRIFIC EVENTS IN ORLANDO

  (Mr. POCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, as we grapple with the horrific events that 
took place yesterday morning in Orlando, my thoughts are with the 
families of the victims and everyone affected during Pride Month.
  The targeting of LGBT individuals in this heinous act of violence has 
reignited many fears and uncertainty in our community. As a country, we 
must stand together to denounce bigotry and hatred and embrace love and 
acceptance.
  President Barack Obama declared this an act of terror and an act of 
hate, an action perpetrated with a military-style assault weapon. 
Unfortunately, this week Congress won't do a thing about any of these 
issues. In fact, all too often actions and language here in Congress 
and on the campaign trail actually exacerbate would-be terrorists, and 
actions even on the floor of the House of Representatives all too often 
reinforce the hate of some people, including gays and lesbians.
  Unfortunately, this body is too chicken to address the epidemic of 
military-style assault weapons because that would upset the gun 
manufacturers and gun lobby.
  In the end, all we did, yet again, is have another moment of silence 
rather than a moment of action. That disrespects the lives of the 
people who were killed not just yesterday, but every day by gun 
violence. There may be blood in the streets, but if Congress continues 
to fail to act, we will have blood on our hands.

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