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[Pages H8911-H8912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CALL FOR SENATE TO ACT AFTER FRESNO MASS SHOOTING
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, it saddens me once again to hear another mass
shooting has occurred in our country, this time in my district.
Last night, in Fresno, California, another senseless mass shooting
occurred, where four people lost their lives and six more were injured.
This happened at a family gathering in a neighborhood not far from the
airport near Fresno, where 35 or more people were gathered.
Children were present at this meaningless act while they were
watching a football game. While none of the children were harmed,
certainly their lives will be changed forever as a result of the trauma
they experienced last night.
I have reached out to local law enforcement, and we are ready to
assist in any way possible. I have spoken with the mayor and the chief
of police.
Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their
families, but as a community and as a country,
[[Page H8912]]
thoughts and prayers are just not enough. The daily tragedy of gun
violence continues to inflict terror and violence on individuals and
neighborhoods across our country, and that is a fact.
The threat to public safety is not normal, nor should it be seen as
acceptable. It is unacceptable.
My office has been working with community leaders to identify
resources for those affected, such as counseling, mental health
support, victims' compensation, and community outreach.
This is in a neighborhood where a great deal of Southeast Asian
families live. These are immigrants past and immigrants present. They
came after the Vietnam war, where they stood shoulder to shoulder with
Americans fighting in that conflict. They have been assimilating and
contributing to our community in Fresno and throughout the valley.
Americans and members of our community deserve real action to keep
them safe. In February, the House passed meaningful bipartisan gun
safety legislation that Senator Mitch McConnell refuses to bring up in
the Senate. This legislation, combined with State and local efforts,
would help make a difference. It is not a silver bullet, clearly. Bad
term. Let me take that back because there are way too many guns and too
many bullets out there.
Republicans and Democrats have good and different ideas on how to
deal with gun violence in America. Wouldn't it be refreshing if the
President were to bring us together in a bipartisan effort to talk
about violence in America and solutions on how we deal with violence in
America because no community, no town, no hamlet, regardless of the
size, is not impacted by the gun violence that takes place every day?
The fact remains that too many Americans in too many communities are
forced to live in fear. I know. I live near this downtown community
where, nightly, you can hear guns going off. Last night, one of the
neighbors said they are fearful of even working on their car in front
of their home or when people drive by.
Americans should not be forced to live in that kind of fear in their
neighborhoods. It is not right. The Senate must allow a vote on a
bipartisan, commonsense gun violence prevention program. The House
acted on that legislation 260 days ago--260 days ago.
We must come together in our community in Fresno. I spoke with the
mayor and talked about figuring out ways to bring our community
together with local law enforcement agencies and community
organizations to help us heal.
The question is, how many more American lives must be lost to
senseless violence before action is taken? That is the question we must
ask.
I will do everything I can to promote safety in our neighborhoods.
____________________
