Click here to view video of Murphy’s remarks.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday in response to reports of an active shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

“Turn on your television right now, you're going to see scenes of children running for their lives. It’s what looks to be the [18]th school shooting in this country, and we have not even hit March,” said Murphy. “Let me just note once again for my colleagues: this happens nowhere else other than the United States of America. We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else. As a parent, it scares me to death that this body doesn't take seriously the safety of my children, and it seems like a lot of parents in South Florida are going to be asking that same question later today.”

Full text of Murphy’s remarks about the shooting is below:

As we speak, there is a horrific scene playing out at a high school in South Florida. Turn on your television right now, you're going to see scenes of children running for their lives. It’s what looks to be the [18]th school shooting in this country, and we have not even hit March. 

I'm coming to the floor to talk about something else, but let me just note once again for my colleagues: this happens nowhere else other than the United States of America. This epidemic of mass slaughter, this scourge of school shooting after school shooting.

It only happens here not because of coincidence, not because of bad luck, but as a consequence of our inaction. We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else. 

As a parent, it scares me to death that this body doesn't take seriously the safety of my children, and it seems like a lot of parents in South Florida are going to be asking that same question later today.

We pray for the families and for the victims. We hope for the best. 

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