Several dozen U.S. House Democrats pushing for action on gun control protested on the floor of the House, chanting “no bill, no break!” and demanding that the chamber put off an upcoming recess until legislation is debated.
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Republicans fiercely resisted the pressure and said Democrats had accomplished nothing other than disrupting the business of the House to score political points.
Rep. Paul Ryan saod, “Our focus needs to be on confronting radical extremism. terrorism is the issue. let me say it again: terrorism is the issue. and defeating terrorism is our focus here in the House”.
He believes tougher gun control legislation isn’t necessary.
Democratic lawmakers pushing for tougher United States gun control laws after the Orlando nightclub massacre ended a stunning 24-hour sit-in at Congress on Thursday. “They don’t want to be on the record”, said Congressman Frank Pallone. We can’t bring a bill to the floor. Castor said they decided to make their stand near the front of the House chamber.
After 25 hours occupying the well of the House chamber, Democrats chose to go home and continue their push for a vote on gun-control measures when Congress returns July 5.
Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Luján, who also serves as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, were among 168 Democrats (out of a total of 188 in the House) who joined the sit-in.
“We have to find a balance here”, Pingree said. “And if we lose, we lose, but you gave us a vote”.
“This isn’t trying to come up with a solution to a problem”, he said. Lewis said. “It’s a senseless and unbelievable murder of babies, little children, people in a supermarket, going to a theater, or to a club – and the time for action is now”. Fifteen hours after the sit-in began, Ryan adjourned the House for two weeks in response to the protest and Republicans left the building for their Fourth of July recess. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut – who led a 15-hour senate filibuster last week on gun control – and Sen. The mass shooting followed similar tragic incidents over the past years including the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
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The Democrats, though, have vowed to keep going after they return to session in early July, with civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis – who led the charge for the vote-saying, “We must never ever give up, or give in”.
