House Democrats Stage Sit-In, Push for Gun Control Action
By: Tracie Mauriello, Toledo Blade
June 22, 2016
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri brought a pillow. Norma Torres of California brought a blanket. Jerrold Nadler of New York brought a magazine. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland brought snacks. Several members brought iPads.
And they all brought their frustration to the House floor Wednesday.? Democrats appeared prepared for a long stay on the House floor, where at noon Wednesday they began a hostile takeover, stalling all floor action as long as it took, they said, to get a vote on legislation that would block the sale of guns to suspected terrorists on the government’s no-fly list.
About 200 Democrats participated, including several members of the Senate.
Their passion and frustration is fueled by GOP leaders’ refusal to allow votes on gun-control measures after the June 10 massacre that killed 49 in Orlando, Fla.
“There comes a time when you have to say something, when you have to make a little noise, when you have to move your feet. This is the time,” said U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D. Georgia), who led the sit-in. “We have to occupy the floor of the House. Rise up, Democrats. Rise up, Americans.”
Nearly 12 hours in, the demonstration nearly came to blows when U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R., Texas) approached a gaggle of Democrats, shouted at them and aggressively wagged his finger in the face of U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (D., Fla.).
Ms. Brown pushed a wooden podium toward Mr. Gohmert and other members stood between them with some shouting “Separate them! Separate them!” until Mr. Gohert was led off the floor.
The altercation occurred shortly after House Speaker Paul Ryan (R. Wis.) briefly gaveled in the House in an attempt to override a presidential veto on fiduciary rules.
The GOP, which controls the only cameras allowed in the chamber, shut down the live feed carried by C-SPAN. However, members themselves defied House rules to film the proceedings and post video and photos to Periscope. C-SPAN eventually picked up a feed from Periscope.
Rep. Mark Takano of California was among those filming, using a borrowed cell phone and a pink external battery. ?Other members took to social media.
Some members read lists of people killed by guns. Others read text messages that people hiding in a bathroom at Pulse nightclub sent loved ones just before a gunman took their lives.
During brief remarks on the floor, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) recalled the oldest and youngest victims of the shootings in Orlando and in San Bernardino, Calif., and she called out Republicans not doing more to prevent people like them from becoming victims. “They’re missing in action,” she said.
?Miss Kaptur said Democrats have been willing to compromise by narrowing the group of people who would be covered by the proposed no-fly, no-buy legislation.
“They wouldn’t go for that. They couldn’t accept the reasonable standard, so they did nothing,” she said. “I don’t see why it’s so hard for the Republicans to join us to [address] this moral crisis that our nation faces.”
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