House Democrats stage protest in dispute over guns

In an attempt to force a vote on gun control measures a group of Democrats disrupted the House of Representatives on Wednesday, staging a sit-in on the House floor and refusing to leave until they were given the vote.

When a call for order from Texas Rep. Ted Poe, who was presiding over the chamber, was not answered, the House was called into recess and the cameras were turned off.

Other lawmakers joining Lewis include Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson, Michigan Rep. Dan Kildee, Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes and Conneticut Rep. John Larson.

“Thank you John Lewis for leading on gun violence where we need it most”, President Barack Obama tweeted. “We will occupy this floor, we will not be denied a right to vote”.

House Democratic Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., suggested that could be a marathon recess.

The cameras may have been shut down, but we’re still here.

Democrats from the House of Representatives staged a sit-in on Wednesday to protest lawmakers’ failure to pass legislation created to curtail gun violence in the wake of the Orlando mass shooting.

C-SPAN, a cable network that provides continual coverage of House and Senate floor proceedings, does not control the cameras.

As the protest continued, lawmakers briefly sang “We Shall Not Be Moved”.

Stunningly, these Democrats are ever so ready to deny innocent Americans their Fourth Amendment right to due process. The Democrats demanded Republican leaders to allow votes on legislation to combat gun violence before heading home for district work.

With the chamber’s visitors’ galleries unusually crowded for a Monday evening – including people wearing orange T-shirts saying (hashtag) ENOUGH gun violence – each measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to progress.

Since starting this morning by approximately 30 representatives, the action has grown – but you might never have known it. Media on the scene is not allowed to broadcast from the chamber because the House is not technically in session. “The American people demand action and we must demand it of ourselves”. An overwhelming majority also agree that we should enact safety measures that keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) devised the “No Bill, No Break” concept with Reps. “We can’t take it anymore and we’re done with moments of silence”.