WASHINGTON — The House has adjourned until after July 4, ending a round-the-clock sit-in by Democrats demanding votes on gun-control bills.
Democrats denounced the GOP plan as “cowardly” and stayed on the floor to demand votes on bills to strengthen background checks and prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns.
Republicans moved to adjourn immediately after pushing through a partisan bill to deal with the Zika outbreak.
A spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan dismissed the Democrats’ protest as a “publicity stunt” and said Republicans “have plowed ahead to do what is needed to responsibly address” the Zika crisis.
Spokeswoman AshLee Strong said the House “is focused on eliminating terrorists, not constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. And no stunts on the floor will change that.
Rebellious Democrats shut down the House’s legislative work on Wednesday, staging a sit-in on the House floor and refusing to leave until they secured a vote on gun control measures before lawmakers’ week-long break.
Exasperated Republicans were forced to recess while cutting off cameras that showed the protest. But in an unprecedented step, C-SPAN used live video feeds from one lawmaker’s Periscope account and another’s Facebook page to transmit words and images from the House.
North Carolina Democrats G.K. Butterfield, David Price, and Alma Adams are participating in the sit-in.
Nearly 100 Democrats led by Georgia Rep. John Lewis demanded a vote on measures to expand background checks and block gun purchases by some suspected terrorists in the aftermath of last week’s massacre in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people in a gay nightclub.
“No bill, no break,” shouted Democrats, who demanded that Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., keep the House in session through its planned break next week to vote on gun legislation.
Democrats accused Republicans of political cowardice by failing to schedule a vote.
“Are they more afraid than the children at Sandy Hook?” asked Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., referring to the 2012 shooting that killed 26 people, including 20 elementary school children, in Newtown, Connecticut. “What is so scary about having a vote?”
Lewis, a veteran civil rights leader revered by Democrats, said action on gun violence is long overdue.
“We have lost hundreds and thousands of innocent people to gun violence,” Lewis said as he urged fellow Democrats to stand with him in the area near the podium, known as the well.
Republican Representative Mark Walker spoke in opposition to the sit in through a social media post.
The Latest on House Democrats’ protest demanding a vote on gun control legislation (all times local):
4:15 a.m.
Democrats say their sit-in on guns succeeded even though they did not get the two votes they were seeking.
At a 3:30 a.m. news conference Thursday, Democrats said their efforts had raised awareness of the issue around the world, and they vowed to keep up the fight.
Democratic Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who led the protest, said Democrats “crossed one bridge,” but said, “We have other bridges to cross.”
Lewis said Democrats “made a down payment on ending gun violence” in America, while Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts said. “We had a victory for democracy. We stood up to the special interests.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Democrats “have changed the dynamic of what happens” on guns.
___
3:50 a.m.
Before adjourning until July 5, Republican leaders reminded lawmakers about decorum on the House floor.
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.
Democrats openly flaunted those rules throughout a sit-in that lasted until early Thursday. Lawmakers transmitted proceedings though smart-phone video distributed on social media such as Periscope and Facebook, and many tweeted photos of themselves on the House floor. GOP leaders cut off House cameras as the sit-in began, leaving Democrats to scramble for an alternative way to get their message out to the public.
GOP leaders said the rules were based on the notion that images from the House floor “might be taken to carry the imprimatur of the House.”2:30 a.m.
The House is back into session as lawmakers prepared to push through a Republican-sponsored bill to deal with the Zika outbreak and then adjourn until after July 4 to shut down a round-the-clock sit-in by Democrats demanding votes on gun-control bills. Democrats denounced the GOP plan as “cowardly”.
Republicans had hoped to present themselves as soberly attending to business and Democrats as disruptive. Democrats – yelling “no bill, no break” – vowed to stay in the House chamber until Republicans yielded to their demands to hold votes on bills to strengthen background checks and prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns in the wake of last week’s massacre in Orlando, Florida.
“Today, history was made. Dozens of House Democrats staged a sit-in on the House Floor to demand a vote on legislation to address gun violence. In the wake of the recent shooting in Orlando that claimed 49 innocent lives, Republican leadership has failed to vote even on commonsense legislation that would expand background checks and prevent dangerous firearms from being sold to suspected terrorists. Enough is enough,” Rep. G.K. Butterfield said in a statement, “Now more than ever, the issue of gun violence should transcend party lines. It’s time for the American people to demand new gun laws to make our country a safer place for all. We must take action.”
___
1:05 a.m.
Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan won thunderous applause and a standing ovation after she talked in personal terms about her experience growing up in a home where she was threatened by gun violence.
Dingell’s husband is former Rep. John Dingell, a gun owner and longtime NRA supporter. Debbie Dingell said her husband is a responsible gun owner, but said she grew up in a house with a man who should not have had access to a gun – her father.
Dingell recalled her father pointing a gun at her and wondering if she would live or die, adding: “I know what it’s like to hide in a closet and pray to God, ‘Do not let anything happen to me.’ ”
Dingell said domestic abuse happens “in all kinds of households.”
____
12:15 a.m.
Several hundred protesters who back tougher gun control are outside the Capitol are showing solidarity with House Democrats demanding a vote on legislation.
Throughout the night, they heard from Democratic lawmakers who were staging a daylong sit-in on the House floor.
As the crowd grew, they shouted “hold the floor” and “do your job” to lawmakers.
The demonstration outside the Capitol was organized by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun sense in America.
10:35 p.m.
The House is back in recess after two votes, and Democrats are loudly protesting for votes on gun control.
In the aftermath of the massacre in Orlando, Florida, last week, Democrats are staging an extraordinary sit-in. They shouted as Speaker Paul Ryan gaveled the House into session Wednesday night.
Democrats promised to stay until they got a vote on guns. It was unclear what would happen next in the House.
___
10:10 p.m.
Democrats chanted and shouted over Speaker Paul Ryan as he gaveled the House into session and tried to bring order.
Ryan pounded the gavel several times, but Democrats were relentless in their chanting. Ryan called a vote.
As Ryan left the podium, Democrats booed and some shouted, “Shame, shame.”
The extraordinary unrest continued throughout the vote on labor legislation. Democrats want a vote on gun control.
____
10 p.m.
House Democrats are chanting “no bill, no break!” as the Republicans move toward a vote on labor legislation.
After more than 10 hours of a sit-in on the floor, Democrats are holding photos of gun victims and papers with their names. Democrats want a vote on gun control legislation before lawmakers’ weeklong break next week.
House Speaker Paul Ryan says the House won’t vote on gun control legislation. He called the Democrats’ action Wednesday a publicity stunt and says Congress won’t do anything that could undermine the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms.
