On the recordMay 21, 2018
Madam President, I rise to speak today in the wake of another tragic school shooting. This time, it was in Texas. Ten innocent people--eight students and two teachers--were gunned down Friday when a gunman walked into a high school in East Texas and opened fire. Tragedies such as this are becoming too common in our society. At some point, we have to say enough is enough. How many times have we said that? Just 3 months ago, I stood right here on the Senate floor after 17 people were killed at MSD High School in Parkland, FL. I pleaded with our colleagues to set aside partisan politics and work together to enact commonsense reforms that will help make what happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School a pivotal moment in our Nation's history--not because it was one of the deadliest school shootings, but because back then, 3 months ago, it was the last one. I hoped it would be the last one. I am so proud of the students who spoke out and the parents who spoke out, such as Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was gunned down as she was trying to flee at the other end of the hall. That bullet from that AR- 15 caught her right in the spinal cord just as she was about to exit the hall. I thank Fred and others who have been speaking out, especially the students--so eloquent, so bold. We all hoped that the shooting in Parkland was going to be the last one, but it was not. Here we go again. With the tragedy that took place in Parkland so fresh in our minds, here we go again.…





