Representative Debbie Dingell, of MI, whose husband former Representative John Dingell is a longtime NRA supporter, won thunderous applause and a standing ovation after she talked in personal terms about her experience growing up in a home with gun violence. In so doing, they forced public consideration of gun control, an issue many politicians would prefer to avoid.
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Scattered around the House floor were signs reading “Disarm Hate”. Politicians respond not just to poll numbers, but to the letters and phone calls and threats they get. For instance, Everytown for Gun Safety, the group supported with huge contributions by former NY mayor Michael Bloomberg, is becoming a genuine rival to the NRA – not as big yet, but on its way, with a large staff and a growing network of activists.
As the sit-in gathered momentum, Connecticut Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who later brought coffee as her House colleagues planned to spend the night.
Others used Twitter and Facebook to circumvent the Republican grip on the cable-service broadcasting network, which explained to its viewers that it did not control the cameras on the House floor.
Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver II of Missouri, dressed in a pink suit, carried a pink-and-white striped pillow in his hand for several hours as he walked around the House chamber. It enabled Democrats to label the Republicans as controlled by the NRA lobbying group.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who ripped the effort as a “publicity stunt” and a “fundraising stunt” in various interviews Wednesday night and Thursday morning, gaveled the chamber into adjournment during a dead-of-night session, sending his members home until after Fourth of July weekend as he looked to gain back control of the floor and force Democrats to end their gun control sit-in.
Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, tried to remind the Democrats staging Occupy House FLoor what the real issue was, saying “Radical Islam killed these poor people”. Rep. Kathy D. Castor, D-Fla., declared. The two came within inches of each other, both yelling. C-SPAN has pushed for years to set-up its own cameras, but requests have been denied by both parties.
According to “The Hill”, about 24 democrats are participating.
Other House Republicans were less restrained in their response.
House Democrats staged a sit-down protest Wednesday, seeking a vote on gun control measures following the Orlando nightclub shooting. “My heart breaks for Orlando, for Florida, and for our country”. House Speaker Paul Ryan called it “a publicity stunt”. We will continue to fight, until we get a vote on a couple of bills. They actually want to see some change, and are willing to make noise and take risks to make it happen.
Senators and their constituents alike have been sending food to the House Democrats since the extraordinary protest began on Wednesday.
As Ryan left the podium, Democrats booed and some shouted, “Shame, shame”. “We will not rest until Congress shows the courage to act to strengthen background checks and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and suspected terrorists”.
In 2008, House Republicans, then in the minority, held a “quasi session” during summer recess to protest the Democrats’ refusal to hold votes on energy policy amid sharply rising gasoline prices.
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After more than 10 hours of a sit-in on the floor, Democrats are holding photos of gun victims and papers with their names. The shooting is renewing the debate over gun control legislation, which seems poised to go nowhere in Congress.
