we all know it has been a difficult and tragic couple of days for America. We were so deeply saddened to hear the news from Newtown, CT, on Friday. As a parent, nothing in life is more important than the protection of our children. The death of a child--there is no recovery from. My heart goes out to all the families who lost loved ones in this unspeakable tragedy. Last night we learned of the death of our colleague Senator Inouye. I want to mention today that just this past Sunday, over the weekend, grief struck the capital city of Kansas, my home State. Corporal David Gogian and Officer Jeff Atherly were fatally shot Sunday in Topeka while on duty. These public servants were investigating drug activities that were allegedly occurring inside a vehicle outside a neighborhood grocery store. As they approached the vehicle and ordered the occupants to get out, a gunman took the lives of both officers. When we lose someone in a community in Kansas, it is not just a name to us, it is somebody we see at our kids' activities at school, somebody we go to church with, somebody we know and care about. These two individuals are that to their friends and family in Topeka and across our State. David had been part of the Topeka Police Department for 21 years. He spent 13 years as a reserve officer and 8 years as a full-time officer. His service did not begin as a police officer; he had previously served his country in the Kansas National Guard and just recently retired.…
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