Democrats Continue Gun Control Sit-In

The revolt in the House of Representatives entered a second day Thursday as protesting democrats continued to demand votes on gun control measures opposed by republicans.

The sit in comes just after the Senate shot down four gun control bills just a few short days prior. The reasoning? Democrats want to put pressure on the republicans to allow a vote on a measure that would restrict the ability of suspected terrorists to legally buy guns.

House democrats took over the floor at 11:25am Wednesday, demanding republican leadership schedule votes on the gun control bills. They were soon joined by several Democratic Senators and fortified by deliveries of pizza and blankets. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, has dismissed the Democratic sit-in as a publicity stunt and GOP critics have blasted as unconstitutional proposed bills that would bar suspected terrorists on no-fly lists from buying guns and impose universal background checks.

When Ryan took to the podium at the sit in, his words were drowned out by loud chants from democrats.

“The chair appreciates that members will differ on matters of policy and will seek to express those differences,” Ryan said over the loud chants. “But the chair would hope that the business of the House could be conducted in a fashion that respects positively on the dignity and decorum of this institution.”

This is some fantastic political theater, ladies. Grab some nail polish, sit back, and watch this incredible display pan out in front of you. But, as you watch in awe, don’t forget what these people are sitting for. Which, if you look at it, isn’t a lot.

By restricting those on the no-fly list they are barely scraping the surface of why we need gun control. Those placed on the no-fly list are often placed there for no reason other than their ethnicity. As of 2014, the government had a list of 680,000 people, with 40 percent of those not affiliated with any sort of terror group. These lists are targeting Arab Americans and people of color.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest mass shootings in America, and the men who committed them.

The most recent mass shooting — and the largest — was committed by Omar Mateen at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Mateen was not on a terrorist watch list, so whether or not this law was in place beforehand is irrelevant. He still would have walked in and killed 49 people.

On July 20, 2012, James Holmes walked into a theater in Aurora, Colorado and killed 12 people. He was not on the no fly list.

On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 28 people. He was not on the no fly list.

On December 2, 2015, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik killed 16 people at a Christmas Party. Neither were on the no fly list.

We can’t forget to mention that gun violence is not just a mass shooting issue. The vast majority of gun deaths—suicides as well as homicides—are caused by handguns, and the majority of people firing those guns are not suspected terrorists; they are people who can walk in and buy a gun at your friendly, local Walmart.

We appreciate your intentions democrats, but if you are going to make a scene make it worth while.