After Capitol all-nighter, Democrats push on for gun control

While Democrats congratulated one another Thursday on their 25-hour sit-in to demand gun control votes, they also set a precedent that could make it easier for small minorities to bring government to a halt.

Though the GOP controls Congress, Democrats commandeered both chambers with a 15-hour Senate filibuster and a almost 26-hour, old-fashioned sit-in on the House floor that won massive social media coverage.

Members involved in the sit-in protested when Republicans turned off cameras always pointed toward the House floor, preventing for a time broadcasts by C-SPAN and other outlets.

Speaker Paul Ryan excoriated Democrats Thursday morning for disrupting the business of the House as the minority party’s sit-in to protest inaction on gun violence moved into its second day. “American people are with us and people around the world are with us”, sit-in leader John Lewis, a long time congressman and veteran of the civil rights movement who marched with Martin Luther King, told reporters.

On Thursday Democrats streamed onto the steps of the East Front of the Capitol, where cheering crowds welcomed them with cries of “We’re with you!” under humid skies.

“House Republicans may have cut the cameras, but they can’t cut off our voices”, Clinton said in a tweet.

The 239-180 party-line vote – with House Republicans voting “yea” – fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto. The ACLU has opposed gun control legislation based on terror watch lists, which it says are error prone, unfair and lack a meaningful process for people to challenge their placement on the lists, or clear their names.

Eight Republicans joined Democrats in backing her proposal, and she said other Republicans had been on the verge of backing her plan. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Rep. Raul GriJalva, D-Ariz., participate in sit-down. “We can not continue to stick our heads in the sand and ignore the reality of mass gun violence in our nation”, he said. “They just need to hear what we’re doing”, said Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., called it “a publicity stunt”.

A visibly deflated Collins suggested Senate leaders were intentionally draining support from her bill by allowing a GOP alternative to also come to a vote.

Rep. Corrine Brown was one of the lawmakers inside.

When asked why he would not agree to hold a vote like the Senate did, he dug in his heels and said the House has rules and procedures.

Democrats remained and said they would continue to press their case throughout the recess for votes to tighten the nation’s gun-control laws.

Later, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, came to the floor and yelled at Democrats, telling them that they should talk instead about “radical Islam” – a reference to Omar Mateen, the shooter in the June 12 mass killing of patrons at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

To his colleagues’ applause, Clyburn said, “Let me begin my remarks by thankin’ the media”, as he gestured to the upper gallery where members of the media sit. The mass attack followed similar tragic incidents over the past years including the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

Apart from the intensity of the speeches, the House floor had the atmosphere of an open-mic night.

In particular, leaders reminded lawmakers that they are barred from using electronic devices to display audio or video recordings of House proceedings or take pictures on the House floor. “No break!” as Mr Ryan repeatedly banged his gavel in an attempt to restore order, reported The New York Times.

Cable news channel C-Span carried the Periscope feed as if the House were in session.

While conservative groups offered no hints they were thinking that way Thursday, their leadership was concerned.