WASHINGTON — House Democrats continued their demands for votes on gun control Tuesday, though this time the commotion lasted less than two minutes.
Less than a week after a near 26-hour sit-in on the House floor, a half-dozen Democrats stood in the nearly empty chamber and loudly demanded recognition in a session held strictly for procedural business.
Despite their shouts, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., who was presiding, gaveled the session to a close two minutes after it began.
The choreographed outburst was designed to call attention to Democrats’ insistence on votes for bills barring people on the government’s no-fly list from getting guns and tightening background checks required for many firearms purchases.
In an interview on WisPolitics.com, a political news service, House Speaker Paul Ryan said “we are not going to handle it the same way” if Democrats continue disorderly tactics when the House returns next week.
Ryan, R-Wis., provided no details but said: “We will not tolerate this.” He called the Democratic actions “a low moment for the people’s house.”
Speaking to reporters, the Democratic lawmakers stopped short of saying they would resume their sit-in next week, but would not specify what they would do. Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., said that if Ryan thinks the Democrats would drop their demands, “it’s just not going to happen that way, Mr. Speaker.”
Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., called the GOP refusal to allow a vote “a spit in the face to the American people.”
Democrats around the country planned “Day of Action” events around the country today to publicize their push, including a town hall meeting in Atlanta led by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who led last week’s House sit-in.
Before Tuesday’s uproar, the House chaplain, Father Patrick J. Conroy, opened the day’s session with a prayer that included: “Let your spirit of peace descend upon this place, and those who work here.”
