Debbie Dingell: “it is with great shock and sadness that I stand here to speak about the deaths of two fine officers who were so brutally…”

“it is with great shock and sadness that I stand here to speak about the deaths of two fine officers who were so brutally shot down only a few feet from this Chamber on Friday afternoon. These heroes put their own lives on the line to save thousands of Capitol employees and visitors. My heart goes out to their families and their friends. I know that it must not be much consolation to know that they are heroes no longer with us when in reality we all would much rather have them with us, and because of them no tourists or workers died--if they hadn't been there it would have been much worse. Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson showed us that the Capitol is safely guarded and that it is safe for folks to walk, enjoy and learn about the 'People's House.' This unexpected and sudden tragedy apparently was the result of a disturbed individual. Unfortunately there is no way to make sure that Americans will not be exposed to such risk. However, I feel better walking the Halls of Congress on Capitol Hill knowing that officers of this dedication and ability are there to protect me, my constituents and my staff. The Capitol Hill Police Force should be commended for the bravery and efforts in the way that this very difficult situation was handled. Let us hope it will never have to be repeated.”