WASHINGTON — Dozens of House Democrats on Wednesday staged a sit-in on the floor of the House chamber to demand that the Republican majority hold a vote on a gun-control measure before a weeklong recess for Independence Day.
Plunked down in the well of the chamber, the Democrats — including senior party leaders — effectively paralyzed all legislative business as they chanted, “No bill, no break!”
But Republicans forced the House into recess, cutting off the microphones and the televised feed that broadcasts floor proceedings live on C-SPAN. Democrats refused to relinquish control of the chamber and undertook hours of speeches railing against gun violence, interspersed with chants demanding a vote on measures to tighten the nation’s gun laws.
“We will not leave the floor of this House until this Congress takes action!” Rep. Kathy D. Castor, D-Fla., declared.
Democrats quickly enlisted new technology — the Periscope live-stream feature of Twitter — to overcome the Republican blackout. C-SPAN picked up the feed and broadcast as if the House was in session, albeit with the unavoidably shaky camerawork by lawmakers using their cellphones.
Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard took part.
“In the three and a half years I’ve served in Congress, the Republicans have not once allowed members to vote on any gun control legislation,” Gabbard told West Hawaii Today in an email. “It is outrageous in this democracy, with a representative form of government, that we are not even allowed to vote on sensible gun control legislation that is supported by the vast majority of the American people and that would help ensure the American people are safe. This is why I decided to participate in the sit-in.”
Speaker Paul D. Ryan, in an interview on CNN, dismissed the Democrats’ action as a “publicity stunt.”
Yet even by the hyperpartisan standards of modern Washington, it was a brazen disruption that underscored the outrage many lawmakers have expressed about the failure of Congress to act in the aftermath of numerous mass shootings.
In 2008, House Republicans, then in the minority, held a “quasi session” during summer recess to protest the Democrats’ refusal to hold votes on energy policy amid sharply rising gasoline prices. The Republicans met in a darkened chamber, a point they recalled with no small amount of outrage amid Democrats’ complaints on Wednesday. A key difference, though, was that the House was in recess then and no business was interrupted as the protest continued for several days.
On Wednesday, Democrats short-circuited an active legislative session, for which Republicans had scheduled votes on a number of measures, including amendments to the annual Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. By late afternoon, Republicans said they still intended to conduct business, but the Democrats showed no sign of relenting.
Rep. Maxine Waters of California seemed to sum up their collective resolve when she said, “I’m prepared to stand here until hell freezes over.”
The House minority leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, said her caucus was seeking votes on measures similar to two Democratic proposals that failed to advance in the Senate.
One of those sought to bar gun sales to people on the government’s terrorism watch list, while the second would expand and toughen background checks for gun buyers. Those two measures were defeated Monday in the Senate, along with two Republican alternatives.
West Hawaii Today contributed to this report.