The following are statements related to the third anniversary of the 1 October/Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas:
Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on the 3rd Anniversary of Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting
On October 1, 2017, Las Vegas was struck by tragedy when a gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Festival, killing 60 people and wounding hundreds more in what remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. It was an act of pure malice, and yet another appalling act of gun violence - the kind that takes the lives of 100 Americans every day.Rather than let tragedy define the city, Nevadans did what you always do in hard times — you were resilient.In the aftermath of the shooting, we heard stories of residents putting their own lives at risk to provide aid to the wounded and community members lining the streets to donate blood. First responders and emergency room workers saved lives. The community came together around being #VegasStrong — raising funds for families of victims and survivors’ medical costs, and within days of the shooting working to construct a memorial to honor victims.The story of Nevada’s resilience reflects the spirit of America that I know. On this solemn day, Jill, Kamala, Doug and I pray for the victims of the Route 91 shooting and their families, as well as the survivors and first responders carrying this experience with them today.
Congressman Steven Horsford’s Statement on the Anniversary of 1 October
Washington, D.C. – Today, on the third year anniversary of the 1 October Las Vegas Shooting, Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV) reflected on the tragedy and honored the 58 innocent people who lost their lives and hundreds more injured at the Route 91 Music Festival on October 1, 2017.
“Three years ago today, the Las Vegas community endured a tragedy unlike any other ever witnessed in our nation. The 1 October shooting is a devastating part of Nevada’s history and many are still grappling with the tremendous toll it took on our city. Today, we take a moment to remember the victims and their loved ones. We also thank all of the courageous first responders who did everything in their power to help our community heal.” said Congressman Horsford.
“It has now been 582 days since I voted alongside my colleagues in the House to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, common sense legislation that would save countless lives. Already this year, our country has seen more than 12,000 gun violence deaths and more than 425 mass shootings. Now is the time for the Senate to act and pass this measure because every day that passes, more lives are at stake. In this moment of reflection, I urge the Senate to act so that Nevadans and all Americans never face the same horror and grief of 1 October and finally put an end to the cycle of senseless gun violence.”
U.S. Rep. Susie Lee has released a statement remembering the Route 91 Music Festival tragedy in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017.
“Three years ago, our community experienced a tragedy unlike any we have faced before. October 1st, 2017, is a day that no Nevadan will forget.
“The fear, the trauma, the grief that engulfed our city can’t be measured.
“Since that day, I have seen our city come together in a way that only a strong community can.
“Our unity made it clear that ‘Vegas Strong’ is not just a catchphrase, it’s a part of our identity.
“No one embodies that identity more than our first responders on the scene, along with the nurses, the doctors, and the hospital staff working day and night to care for the countless victims.
“To all of our first responders and health care workers: thank you.
“In the coming days, reach out to your friends, your family, and your neighbors.
“Let them know they are supported and that our community sticks together when times get tough.
“We are and will always be Vegas Strong.”
Annette Magnus, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress, said:
“For the third year, we mourn the lives lost from what is still the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. We also honor the survivors, including the over 800 people injured that night, whose lives were changed forever by this horrific act of domestic terrorism. Our Las Vegas community certainly changed as well, inspiring local leaders to fight, successfully, for gun violence prevention legislation and Nevada’s congressional delegation members, Congresswoman Dina Titus, Congresswoman Susie Lee, and Congressman Steven Horsford, to vote for federal legislation for universal background checks. But these efforts continue to be stymied by a highly motivated gun lobby that uses lackeys like Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell to block said legislation from moving forward and cutting deals to water down common sense laws at the local level."
"While the country is beset by a deadly pandemic, we mustn’t forget the other under-addressed public health crisis of gun violence. Local counties must have the ability to pass laws that work for them by repealing state preemption laws. The recent string of shootings on the Las Vegas Strip in the past week are a harsh reminder of this necessity to pass laws to empower local lawmakers to keep firearms off the Strip. And with the tragic passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we must also consider what it means if Donald Trump is able to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in her place. The gun lobby has dutifully cheered on every extremist judicial pick from the President because they know the power to undo the progress we have made rests in our federal courts. We must be emboldened by this moment and the 1 October anniversary to stop this latest gun-lobby-approved nominee and fight for fair-minded judges who interpret our Constitution with today’s world in mind.”
