Norton Says Charleston Shooting is a Tragedy for the Nation with a Lesson for the District

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the following statement after a gunman on Wednesday night opened fire at the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine people.

"I have been encouraged watching how Charleston is coming together during these moments of intense grief and setting an example for people around the nation on how to respond to the worst of tragedies. We in the District of Columbia cannot help but also identify with Charleston today. As long as people, whether hate-filled, mentally-ill, or terrorist-driven, are easily armed, the residents in the nation's capital, always a target, must be ever mindful. Yet, there are bills pending in Congress to eliminate all of the city's gun laws, including its bar on bringing concealed guns to the nation's capital.

"Today, we are moved first by the irreplaceable losses to Emanuel AME Church and to Charleston. Then, we must turn to doing all we can to preserve the safety of residents and visitors here. To that end, we are grateful for the gun safety laws that help preserve the peace here and will not be intimidated by those in our city who flout our gun safety laws or by Members of Congress who seek to eliminate them."