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House Democrats Stage Sit-In to Push for Action on Gun Control House Democrats Stage Sit-In to Protest Inaction on Gun Control
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Dozens of House Democrats on Wednesday staged a sit-in on the floor of the House chamber to demand that the Republican majority hold a vote on a gun-control measure before a weeklong recess for Independence Day.WASHINGTON — Dozens of House Democrats on Wednesday staged a sit-in on the floor of the House chamber to demand that the Republican majority hold a vote on a gun-control measure before a weeklong recess for Independence Day.
Plunked down in the well of the House chamber, the Democrats — including some party leaders — effectively halted any legislative activity as they chanted, “No bill, no break!” Plunked down in the well of the chamber, the Democrats — including senior party leaders — effectively paralyzed all legislative business as they chanted, “No bill, no break!”
The Democrats continued to chant as Republicans gaveled, demanding “order in the House.” But the Democrats paused, stood and bowed their heads after the speaker pro tem announced that the chaplain would offer the opening prayer. But Republicans forced the House into recess, cutting off the microphones and the televised feed that broadcasts floor proceedings live on C-Span. Democrats refused to relinquish control of the chamber and undertook hours of speeches railing against gun violence, interspersed with chants demanding a vote on measures to tighten the nation’s gun laws.
As the chaplain concluded, the Democrats shouted “Amen,” then sat down and returned to their chant. “We will not leave the floor of this House until this Congress takes action!” Representative Kathy D. Castor, Democrat of Florida, declared.
Republicans quickly declared a recess, but Democrats refused to leave and began making speeches. Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat, spoke of the church shooting in a Charleston, S.C., a year ago. Democrats quickly enlisted new technology — the Periscope live-stream feature of Twitter — to overcome the Republican blackout. C-Span picked up the feed and broadcast as if the House was in session, albeit with the unavoidably shaky camerawork by lawmakers using their cellphones.
Representative Kathy Castor, Democrat of Florida, said: “We will not leave the floor of this House until this Congress takes action!” Speaker Paul D. Ryan, in an interview on CNN, dismissed the Democrats’ action as a “publicity stunt.”
Congress has long been deadlocked over tightening the nation’s gun laws. But outrage and frustration have grown since the massacre in Orlando on June 12 and a number of other mass shootings in recent years. Yet even by the hyperpartisan standards of modern Washington, it was a brazen disruption that underscored the outrage many lawmakers have expressed about the failure of Congress to act in the aftermath of numerous mass shootings.
“We stand for those who do not see this day, whose days were taken from them in an instant, by weapons of violence,” Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat, said in his speech, his colleagues gathered around him. 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. The Republicans met in a darkened chamber, a point they recalled with no small amount of outrage amid Democrats’ complaints on Wednesday. A key difference, though, was that the House was in recess then and no business was interrupted as the protest continued for several days.
After the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, Republicans swiftly called another recess, leaving Democrats occupying the floor but technically not obstructing any official proceedings. On Wednesday, Democrats short-circuited an active legislative session, for which Republicans had scheduled votes on a number of measures, including amendments to the annual Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. By late afternoon, Republicans said they still intended to conduct business, but the Democrats showed no sign of relenting.
A spokeswoman for Speaker Paul D. Ryan said business could not proceed as long as Democrats continued their protest. “The House cannot operate without members following the rules of the institution,” the spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, wrote in an email. Representative Maxine Waters of California seemed to sum up their collective resolve when she said, “I’m prepared to stand here until hell freezes over.”
While Mr. Ryan theoretically could demand that the sergeant-at-arms remove protesting lawmakers, such a move would have been impractical and provocative given that more than 50 Democrats were taking part in the demonstration. The House minority leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, said her caucus was seeking votes on measures similar to two Democratic proposals that failed to advance in the Senate.
By calling a recess, the Republicans effectively cut off the C-Span broadcast from inside the chamber, leaving the events to be described by reporters in the House gallery. One of those sought to ban gun sales to people on the government’s terrorism watch list, while the second would expand and toughen background checks for gun buyers. Those two measures were defeated on Monday in the Senate, along with two Republican alternatives.
While the speeches in the House chamber veered all around the gun-control issue, making it difficult at times to ascertain what specific legislative action protesters wanted, a spokesman for the House Democratic leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, said Democrats were seeking votes on measures similar to two proposals by Democratic senators that failed to advance in the Senate. Representative John Lewis of Georgia, a hero to many Democrats because of his role in the civil rights movement, initiated the protest on Wednesday.
One of those sought to restrict gun sales to people on the government’s terrorism watch list, while the second would expand and toughen background checks for gun buyers. Those two measures were defeated on Monday in the Senate, along with Republican alternatives. “We have to occupy the floor of the House until there’s action,” he said.
Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, has drafted a narrower compromise measure. But despite some bipartisan backing, that proposal also seemed in danger of failing for lack of sufficient Republican support. Congress has long been deadlocked over tightening the nation’s gun laws. But outrage and frustration have grown since the massacre in Orlando, Fla. on June 12 and a number of other mass shootings in recent years.
Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, has drafted a narrower compromise measure. But despite some bipartisan backing, that proposal also seems in danger of failing for lack of sufficient Republican support.
Even if all Senate Democrats and the independents who caucus with them voted in favor, which is hardly assured, at least 14 Republicans would need to agree to reach the 60-vote threshold for advancing the measure. Ms. Collins still seemed far short of that number on Wednesday.Even if all Senate Democrats and the independents who caucus with them voted in favor, which is hardly assured, at least 14 Republicans would need to agree to reach the 60-vote threshold for advancing the measure. Ms. Collins still seemed far short of that number on Wednesday.
Many Democratic senators — including Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii and Al Franken of Minnesota — came to the House chamber and joined the protest. Mr. Franken sat on the floor in the center aisle blocking the path that the president walks down each year before giving the State of the Union speech. Democrats also pushed the gun issue at a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee, putting forward an amendment to the annual homeland security spending bill that would bar individuals suspected of terrorist activities from purchasing firearms, similar to a Democratic measure that failed in the Senate on Monday.
Elsewhere at the Capitol, the House Appropriations Committee debated an amendment to the annual homeland security spending bill that would bar terrorism suspects from purchasing firearms, similar to a Democratic measure that failed in the Senate on Monday.
“I just want to make it very clear that I’d rather my child be inconvenienced than dead,” said Representative Nita M. Lowey of New York, the committee’s top Democrat.“I just want to make it very clear that I’d rather my child be inconvenienced than dead,” said Representative Nita M. Lowey of New York, the committee’s top Democrat.
The amendment failed, with every Republican and two Democrats voting against it.The amendment failed, with every Republican and two Democrats voting against it.