House Democrats continued their disruptive demands for votes on gun control Tuesday, though this time the commotion lasted less than two minutes.
Less than a week after staging a near 26-hour sit-in on the House floor that garnered widespread attention, a half-dozen Democrats stood in the nearly empty chamber and loudly demanded recognition during a session held strictly for procedural business.
Despite their shouts, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., who was presiding, gaveled the session to a close two minutes after it began.
The choreographed, election-year outburst was designed to continue calling attention to Democrats’ insistence on votes for bills barring people on the government’s no-fly list from getting guns and tightening background checks required for many firearms purchases.
Democrats have focused on the issue since the June 12 mass shooting in Orlando in which 49 victims died and 53 others were wounded.
In an interview that appeared Monday on WisPolitics.com, a political news service, House Speaker Paul Ryan said “we are not going to handle it the same way” if Democrats continue disorderly tactics when the House returns next week from its July 4 recess.
Ryan, R-Wis., provided no details but said: “We will not tolerate this.” He called the Democratic actions “a low moment for the people’s house.”
Last week, Ryan called the Democrats’ action a “political stunt” and criticized them for using it in fundraising appeals.
Speaking to reporters, the Democratic lawmakers stopped short of saying they would resume their sit-in next week, but would not specify what they would do. Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., said that if Ryan thinks the Democrats would drop their demands, “it’s just not going to happen that way, Mr. Speaker.”
Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., called the GOP’s refusal to allow a vote “a spit in the face to the American people.”
Last week, the Senate voted down four gun control measures, two from each party. It also stalled a compromise offered by moderates from both parties that would forbid guns from a modest list of terror suspects.
The chief author of that proposal, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Tuesday criticized the House Democrats’ sit-in, saying, “It made the issue partisan, and that was not helpful to our effort in the Senate.”
Democrats around the country were planning “Day of Action” events around the country on Wednesday to publicize their push, including a town hall meeting in Atlanta led by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who led last week’s House sit-in.
The Democrats’ uproar occurred after the House chaplain, Father Patrick J. Conroy, opened the day’s session with a prayer that included: “Let your spirit of peace descend upon this place, and those who work here.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Really, American people who still vote and support Hillary. You American people are getting dumber and stupid everyday. I want to see Mr Donald Trump for our American country. Hillary is going to destroy our American people and American people. Hillary and Obama are the blame for happened. I’m begging, please don’t make mistakes not now. If Hillary becomes our president. This will be your fault. Hillary and Obama don’t like American people. Go vote for Mr Donald Trump. He is doing good for our American country. Remember, the land belong to the Indian. You dumb American people going to let them destroy their land too as well? I’m born and pure blooded American. I’ll be damn if Hillary and Obama destroyed our Indian land. We owe this American land to the Indian. That’s not right. Wake you damn American. Let make our American country rose great and love again. We should not fight for each other, instead let fight for Hillary and Obama off our American country. Go Trump. He is your American president of U.S. of America. So deal with it. You like him or not. You better start now. Warren, she needs to get lost. Vote for Mr Donald Trump. Demanding .
Aman!!!
America has to Awake out of their sleep and pray for GOD to show them who to vote for and if you do an inventory of the morals of God then ask #1 Would God have me vote for someone who supports abortion ? #2 vote for someone who would support gay rights and same sex marriage ? also someone who could not even protect the men in the embassy in Benghazzi but wants to be trusted to protect a whole Nation ? If you can vote for the person who supports these things you are dumber than I thought you were !!
Pretty, Thank You, I’m on your side. Go Trump. We are heading big problem. I see it coming. American people, Don’t be stupid. Vote for Mr Donald Trump. Hillary and Obama are liar and evil people. Don’t vote and support Hillary. She had our four American people killed. She can go back home in other countries. Hillary take Obama with. Warren can go with Hillary and Obama. They hate American, veterans and Indians. American people need to vote and support Mr Donald Trump. He is our last chance. Go for Trump. God Bless our American country.
The democrats are like little children who, when they don’t get their own way, proceed to pout and scream, expecting others to give in to their demands. It is the entire reason our country is in such a mess….everything is out of whack…you name it. We are praying for a Republican candidate to win the WH in November, be it Donald Trump as indicated. Those democrats who insist on using their juvenile behavior to disrupt the people’s work, should be voted out by the states they are from. We are very, very tired of the no-progress past eight years we have lived through.
Iizaz, I agree with you but feel you got a couple of things wrong. First, there are no Democrats in our government. They are Socialists. Communists, if you will. And as far as I’m concerned those who call themselves Republicans are for the most part exactly the same as I described the so called Democrats. Look at it this way. Paul Ryan refuses to actually back the candidate we the people have said we want. He, along with Mitch McConnell led the charge to virtually give Obama a blank check when they rushed through the Budget. Then Ryan, and again, McConnell led the charge to literally screw Social Security recipients out of 19% of their pensions that they paid into all their working lives. And of course, those two traitors are most definitely not the only ones. And also, all the Republican candidates insisted that Trump sign that pledge to blindly support whoever won the Republican nomination. Now they ALL have backed down on the pledge they all insisted they adhere to. Traitors? YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT. From top to bottom.
Speaker Ryan shouldn’t tolerate this. I see two options for dealing with this. The first would be to have Capitol Hill police remove the demonstrators. The other idea would be to crank up the PA in the system and drown out the Democrat troublemakers.
I kind of like the Democrats’ protest. It blocks work from getting done in an election year and it makes the Democrats look like a bunch of troublemakers, which they are. It would be great if we could get the Senate Democrats to do the same thing. Four or five weeks of a Senate shutdown would give Senate Republicans cover for not dealing with the president’s Supreme Court nominee. They could blame their inaction on the Democrats.
House Republicans and their strategists need to work out a plan to use the Democrats’ demonstration against Democrat congressmen. Never let a good crisis go to waste. Now is the time to use this to increase the Republican hold on the House after the November elections.
This was only a stunt for publicity. Congress had already defeated the bills. Typical demos, throwing a tantrum because they aren’t getting their way.
Thank you pretty,
Lying crooked Hillary, and Obama clangs. will be in prison very soon. Mr Donald Trump, you are my brave hero. Let make our American great and love again. We are American people need to vote and support Mr Donald Trump. We need to get together and stand up for Mr Donald Trump as our next president of U.S. of America. Go Trump. Please let stop fighting with each other. We are true born blooded American. Hillary and Obama clangs get off our American country. Remember, we vote and support Mr Donald Trump. He is our last hope before anything happens to our American country. Love your American people and God. Bless you all.
Pretty, I’m on your side, way to go. You are very strong. Maybe you should be vp for Mr Donald Trump. Stand up to your American country. Vote for Mr Donald Trump. He is our real leader for our American country. Go Trump. Let make our American country Rose great again. It’s time to get our American country back where it’s belong. God Bless our American country. Go Trump.
Hi Lee, you are so sweet, I wish I could, thank you for your thoughts. I really appreciated. Please, American people, let not make no mistake, Mr Donald Trump is going to take clean the mess up in the white house. It’s going to be a lot of work for him. Trust me. I know. It’s really not good. But at least Mr Donald Trump will do his and keep our American country safe. Go Trump.
I know the good American people in this Country will vote for Trump. I just hope there are enough good Americans to elect him.
We American People need to remember that the Media tells us ONLY what they want us to know.
WE must make America great again, Thousands gave their lives for our American Rights and Freedom and we are giving it away everyday. Is it because we don’t know any better or is it because we don’t care? If we care, we better vote for Trump.
Make America Great Again.