Gun Control Sit-In: Virginia's Democratic House, Senate Members Support Protest

By SHARON REED (Patch Staff)

Washington, D.C. – Northern Virginia's U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11th) and U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) participated with other House Democrats in a 25-hour sit-in that ended Thursday afternoon, protesting inaction on the curbing of gun sales, on the U.S. House of Representatives floor. They vowed to press on in July.

Led by Congressman John Lewis (GA-5th), the objective is to try to force a vote on two gun control measures focused on strengthening background checks and blocking people on the “terror watch list” and “no-fly” list from buying guns.

More than 80 Democrats participated in the sit-in, including Connolly, Beyer and Virginia's Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3rd).

Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia supported the sit-in, which began Wednesday at 11:25 a.m. Kaine and Warner were among a group of Senators who have joined the House members on the floor.

About a dozen Democrats remained at the sit-in by 9:30 a.m. Thursday, the Associated Press reported.
"It was pretty amazing. They had shut the cameras off. They had shut the microphones off. And we were sitting in," Kaine said on CNN. "It was a real team-building exercise. We felt the same way when we did the filibuster in the Senate last week. We went on the floor to say it’s time for meaningful reform because we cared about the issue, but what we found was being on the floor together made us feel stronger, made us feel like we were doing what our constituents want us to do and made us feel like we were inching closer to the day when we break the grip of gun manufacturers on Congress and embrace reasonable safety reforms."

Connolly, who represents Virginia's 11th District, issued the following statement Wednesday:

“The violence must end. In the wake of these almost weekly tragedies, the response from Congress is as predictable as it is disappointing. We offer our thoughts and prayers. We hold a moment of silence; anything to distract from the central cause, and common instrument, of these crimes. How many more must die before Congress acts? Today, I was proud to join Rep. John Lewis and House Democrats to once again call on Speaker Ryan to bring up a vote on the No Guns for Terrorist bill."

The protest continued despite Speaker Paul D. Ryan calling the chamber into recess. The C-SPAN cameras were then turned off since they are operated under control of the Republican leadership. But C-SPAN aired video from Periscope shot on the floor.

Ryan told CNN that cameras are turned off when the chamber is not in session, according to House rules. In 2008, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for a recess and turned off the lights in a similar situation when Republican representatives occupied the floor while calling for a vote, AP reported.

CNN broadcasted Periscope videos that Democratic members of Congress are recording on their cell phones.

The House adjourned at 3:19 a.m. Thursday morning, after passing a $1.1 billion Zika funding proposal, but without a vote on the gun control legislation, ABC News reported.

Ryan said that the sit-in is a "publicity stunt" and that "House liberals were more interested in headlines than solving the problem," he said on CNN. Ryan said the House would not consider gun bills already voted down on Monday, June 20, in the Senate. Legislation needs to be drafted in a "calm and cool manner," instead of through sit-ins, according to Ryan.

PHOTO courtesy of Sen. Tim Kaine