Brian Mast: “I want to start by saying this. I was prompted to say this by the remarks from my colleague from Florida just now. I…”

“I want to start by saying this. I was prompted to say this by the remarks from my colleague from Florida just now. I believe that there is absolutely nothing that is common sense about preventing those who defend America from having the opportunity to defend themselves. There is no common sense in that whatsoever. I listened to your emotional remarks here, and I listened as you gave zero specifics on the mental illness that my colleague specifically talked about being worried about. Specifically, what mental illnesses is it that had you concerned? I would encourage you to have the courage to be specific and say exactly what it is that you mean so that there is no confusion. Now, the true intent of my remarks today are to talk about my favorite part of going to the VA, and that is sitting next to my fellow veterans when I sit down at one of the clinics at my local VA hospital. Whether it is a marine from Iraq, whether it is a sailor from World War II, a soldier from Vietnam, an airman from Korea, whenever we sit down next to each other, there is a camaraderie that exists immediately. One of the first things that is said is usually some sort of off- topic joke about the branch that the other person comes from. It is that camaraderie of shared service that unites us in a way that half a century of age can't divide. I can tell you, we have common experiences, and we have common healthcare challenges as well.…”