Mike Pence: “Like every American, I will never forget where I was last Saturday. My wife and I were shocked and saddened when we…”

“Like every American, I will never forget where I was last Saturday. My wife and I were shocked and saddened when we learned of the attack on our colleague Gabby Giffords, her staff, and her constituents. Gabby's a hard worker, a talented legislator. But as has been said poignantly on this floor so much better than I will ever be able to today, she is a dear person and a unique individual who is universally liked in the House of Representatives. We are praying for her recovery, the recovery of all those injured, and the comfort of the families of the fallen. Today the American people speak with one voice. We will condemn these unspeakable and evil acts. We will remember the injured and the lost. And we will gently reaffirm our ideals. This act was an unspeakable act of violence. And those responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But as we mourn with those who mourn, two words of gentle admonition. First, we cannot fear free assembly because of the acts of a single assailant.”