When President Clinton banned assault rifles in 1994, mass shootings dropped by 43%. After Republicans let the ban expire in 2004, they increased by 243% — please don’t tell me bans don’t work, because I don’t want to hear it.
I may be tired and a little hoarse, but as I said again and again on the Senate floor, this is a moment where we cannot afford to be silent, when we must speak up.
What’s most clear to me tonight is that this is just the beginning, that Americans across this country, no matter their title or party, are ready to be heard.
I believe that history will show we rose to meet this moment.
It will show we did not let the chaos and division go unanswered.
It will show that when our president chose to spread lies and sow fear, we chose to come together, to work together, and to rise together.