On the recordMarch 1, 2016
Madam Speaker, last week, a gunman shot his way across south central Kansas, and then inside of Excel Industries in Hesston, Kansas, killed three people and injured over a dozen. It is impossible to make sense of such violence and suffering. Renee Benjamin, known by her friends for her ``infectious personality''; Joshua Higbee, a loving father who family and friends said ``would give the shirt off his back for you''; and Brian Sadowsky, a passionate Kansas City Royals fan who coworkers said stayed behind to help the wounded escape were simply doing their jobs taking care of themselves and families. The loss of these three innocent people is something that no one in Hesston or our larger community will ever forget. The lives of those who loved them are changed forever. I was not surprised to see so many people working side by side the day after the attack trying to mend what happened less than 24 hours before. Everywhere I went, there were helping hands. This is so typical of the people of Hesston and Harvey County that I know so well. Their actions amidst this tragedy are a true reflection of what the Scriptures tells us: ``Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'' There was remarkable power in the work of law enforcement officials and city leaders, including Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton and Hesston Mayor David Kauffman.…





