Sen. Al Franken spoke on the floor of the Senate yesterday. He spoke about the terrible events in Orlando, Florida, over the weekend where 49 people were killed by a terrible person with an AR 15 assault rifle. After recounting what is known of the events over the weekend, Sen. Franken took a strong and somber stand.
The investigation is ongoing and many details are still emerging, but we know this. The 49 men and women who lost their lives on Sunday night were murdered by a man with hate in his heart. Perhaps even hate directed within and with an assault weapon in his hand. Madam president, following each and every tragic shooting, one thought haunts me, and that is that we in Congress are failing the American people. We have failed to answer their repeated calls to address gun violence in this country. We have failed to take steps necessary to make our communities safer and as a result, we are complicit in creating the circumstances that give rise to these events. We can't pretend that this part isn't on us.
Now, our state of Minnesota has a proud tradition of responsible gun ownership. Generations of minnesotans have learned to hunt from their parents, their grandparents, their aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors. But when I speak to constituents on this issue, the message is clear: Minnesotans want congress to take commonsense steps to reduce gun violence and ensure their families' safety. There is a balance to be struck here, and I strongly believe that we are capable of striking that balance. The second amendment doesn't protect the rights of everyone to carry whatever weapon he likes in anyplace he wishes, for whatever purpose he wants. The second amendment does not entitle criminals, potential terrorists or people with serious mental illness to carry guns. It does not entitle Americans to own guns designed to slaughter scores of people in seconds.
Sen. Franken goes on to talk about the importance of the nightclub Pulse where this terrorist attack took place and how important it is for our country to protect all of our citizens, including those citizens who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. This is yet another reason we need more liberal representation in our legislature—ask your conservative friends if they think anti-gun control legislation is worth their wretched party affiliation.
