Mass. Democrat Who Led Sit-In Brings Call to Action Home, As House GOP Reportedly Plans Gun Vote

As the Capitol press reports an upcoming gun vote planned in Washington, D.C., the Massachusetts Congresswoman who fired the first shot in the latest debate was on Beacon Hill, continuing her call to increase restrictions on gun buyers.

Melrose Democrat Katherine Clark catapulted into the national spotlight this month after leading a nearly 26-hour sit-in alongside storied Georgia Congressman John Lewis. In a rally outside the Massachusetts statehouse and alongside state and local leaders, she brought that message home Thursday at noon.

Listing the names of Massachusetts citizens killed by guns from Melrose, Dorchester, Belmont and Cambridge, Clark invoked a Christian proverb in a passionate speech before the statehouse.

"(It) says, 'When you pray, move your feet,' and it is time for us to truly honor the tens of thousands of lives lost to gun violence every year in this country by moving our feet," she said. "For the families and loved ones of victims who live with the horrific legacy of inaction every day of their lives, let's move our feet. We demand that Congress take action to end gun violence."

It's one of dozens of such rallies planned by Democrats around the country this week.

As Clark's Boston event got underway, reports emerged from Washington that Speaker of the House Paul Ryan will bring at least one measure to restrict certain citizens' abilities to buy guns, part of a broader counter-terrorism package. The Wisconsin Republican, who called Democrats' actions a "stunt," abruptly ended that House session about 15 hours into the sit-in, around 3 a.m.

According to Roll Call, "It's unclear whether Ryan's proposal would include the broad 'no fly, no buy' proposal Democrats have supported or a more limited version endorsed by the National Rifle Association. ... Ryan said it (is) common sense that suspects on terror watch lists not be able to buy guns, but wanted to be sure that any provision protects due process." Republicans' package will also reportedly include a mental health bill.

At the Boston rally Thursday, Clark hailed the forward motion as a victory.

"As we have been up here, Speaker Ryan has been listening, and he has set a vote on the provision to ban terrorists on the watch list from getting guns," she said.

Although Clark and her fellow Democrats will no doubt savor the chance to debate Republicans' gun bill on the floor, it still falls short of their aspirations. In addition to "no fly, no buy," House Democrats called for universal background checks on gun buyers, which would require almost all firearms transactions be recorded by the government and require a criminal background check.

The sit-in and subsequent local rallies were spurred by the Orlando shooting earlier this month, in which a so-called "lone wolf" shooter who professed allegiance to the Islamic State opened fire at an Orlando gay club, killing 49 and injuring another 52. Two of those killed had Massachusetts ties, and a third man with local roots was seriously injured.

In Boston Thursday, state leaders held up Massachusetts' strict gun laws as examples for the nation to follow.

"We know it works," Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey told a crowd gathered on Beacon Street.

>> Photo via U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark Twitter