Democrats end sit-in on House floor after more than 24 hours

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post

Democratic lawmakers on Thursday afternoon ended the dramatic protest they have staged on the House floor for more than 24 hours, while pledging to continue to find ways to pressure Republicans to hold votes on gun-control measures.

Tired of what they viewed as a publicity stunt by Democrats, Republican early Thursday morning formally adjourned for the long-scheduled Fourth of July recess.

But Democrats said they would continue to press the issue, promising to hold events during the recess both on the House floor and in districts across the country under the belief that they finally have momentum behind putting in place some restrictions on the sale of guns following the recent mass shootings in Orlando.

“Now we have to take the actions which will enable us to meet our goal, which is to win the vote,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi(D-Calif.).

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/06/22/democrats-stage-protest-on-house-floor-to-force-gun-control-votes/

[onehandle]

1. Tipping point reached, gun nuts. nt

[former9thward]

20. Can't wait.

[Taitertots]

2. Just wait until the republicans do it to us

You can't have a functional democracy when people ignore the rules of proceedings when they don't get what they want.

[uppityperson]

3. "until"? They seem to have held us hostage for quite some time, refusing to pass

legislation, interfering with the process.

[mcar]

9. This!

I'm delighted our Dems have finally stopped being afraid of what republicans might do.

[Botany]

6. Until?

vivek murthy (surgeon general) ring a bell?

This was a much needed action. Remember that on Jan 21 2009 "they" got together
to block every single thing that President Obama would try to do.

[wordpix]

7. oh, really? As John Lewis stated, sometimes you have to do things differently

Whether it's lunch counter sit-ins, freedom rides or House sit-ins to end this insane gun violence and allowing terrorists on the no fly list to obtain AR-15's.

[Raine1967]

8. Oh, that's funny.

You are aware the GOP has been preventing a functioning democracy, correct?

[L. Coyote]

11. Just wait until Dems arein the majority!

You can't have a functional democracy when people ignore the rules of proceedings when they don't get what they want.

[tabasco]

16. Like the republicans not voting on a Supreme Court nominee?

Something like that?

[lunatica]

13. Don't have to wait. they started doing it under the Bush Administration

[elljay]

17. You mean like failing to hold hearings for SCOTUS nominees? nt

[L. Coyote]

22. Ding! Ding! Winner.

The Republicans shouldn't get to define the rules as they go. Which they did last night by denying the Dems the right to equal time to debate.

[GummyBearz]

4. Great effort

Washington (CNN)— Democrats decided to end their day-long sit-in protest on the House floor over gun control Thursday.

Guess they are going on vacation for a few weeks then try to sit-in for another day. Keep your butts rested!

[SheilaT]

5. What exactly happened to the

"No bill, no break" idea?

Are they really all hat and no cattle as one saying goes?

Once again, nothing changes. Guns will be sold. People will be killed and maimed. We'll have more hand-wringing and minutes of silence. But not even minimal restrictions on gun purchases.

[lunatica]

14. Listen

If the Democrats are doing what they're doing in order to get certain things voted on then they have to have Republican votes. If the Republicans ALL go home for a two week vacation then why in the world would anyone continue to have this sit-in?

They're not stupid, nor are they sitting in a circular firing squad.

They can easily take this tactic up again when the full house is in session, and it will be like no time went by. That's the way it works.

[scottie55]

10. They Should Stay On Vacation Until Ryan Agrees To Hold A Vote

They can campaign 24 hours a day on this issue until the Republicans concede.

Saving lives is more important than anything Ryan wants to do.

[elljay]

18. Not sure you thought this through

If they stay on vacation, then the Republican majority is alone in the house. Think about what they will do with no one watching.

[scottie55]

19. In The House They Do What They Want Anyway

It is a dictatorship.

[elljay]

21. Yes, but with the Dems there, they can bring attention to it

or at least try to get their opposition on the record. Not that they always do, however. I'm always in favor of making the Republican's lives as difficult as possible, since that is what they do to the rest of us.

[christx30]

12. I'm glad the Democrats did this.

The repubs are dismissing this as a publicity stunt. I wonder how many gun deaths there were during the last 24 hours. The Dems are trying to stop it. The repubs want it to keep going.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. "I wonder how many gun deaths there were during the last 24 hours."

Literally within about 10 minutes after they ended the protest, I got a breaking alert on my phone that a 4-year had just been shot and killed here in Philly. That was just heart-breaking to see. The gun appeared to have been in the house but they are still investigating.

[NobodyHere]

15. What happened to #NoBillNoBreak ?

[L. Coyote]

23. They adjourned the House, that being the "break" that was opposed. So the break happened.

[Action_Patrol]

24. Republicans have the majority.

The Dems have no control over floor proceedings. If the Speaker adjourned the House, that's the end.

The House doesn't have filibuster rules like the Senate. The Speaker decides everything.