Democrats in the House of Representatives shifted their gun legislation tactics this week from protests on the chamber floor to news conferences and speeches denouncing the bill – backed by the National Rifle Association – proposed by House Republicans.
At a news conference Wednesday on the steps of the Capitol, flanked by family members of gun violence victims, House Democrats, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and John Lewis of Georgia, vowed they would continue to fight for their gun legislation to be brought to a vote. They didn’t say how.
Before the July Fourth holiday, they organized a 26-hour gun control sit-in on the House floor, forcing House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to halt business.
The overwhelming majority of Americans want action to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists and criminals. Real action; not a bill written by the gun lobby that they’re going to try and bring up today.
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
“We’re going to have some more action. We don’t know what form it’s going to take, but stay tuned,” said Lewis, an iconic civil rights leader who spearheaded the June 22-23 sit-in after the Orlando nightclub shooting that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded. “Stay tuned, be restless, stay with us, hang in there.”
When the House went back into session Tuesday, Democrats seemed to pick up where they’d left off, but without the drama. They gave dozens of speeches in support of gun legislation – their own gun legislation.
All of us know that the bills the Republicans are talking about bringing to the floor this week don't cut it. It's endorsed by the NRA and would make America less safe, not more safe.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
They denounced a gun measure being proposed by Republicans that seeks to keep firearms out of the hands of suspected terrorists, which is backed by the NRA.
“Americans are demanding a background check system that is a change for the better,” Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said on the House floor. “Unfortunately the bill before us crafted by the NRA will not deliver this to the American people.”
Democrats have asked Ryan to allow votes on two bills: one for “no fly, no buy” legislation that would block individuals on the terror watch list from buying guns and one for universal background checks on commercial gun sales. Ryan has made it clear he will not give in to the sit-in’s demands by bringing the bills to a vote.