Rep. Huffman Joins House Dems in Demanding Speaker Ryan to Allow a Vote on Commonsense Gun Legislation: No Bill, No Break

June 22, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the wake of the horrific act of hate and terror in Orlando last week, the deadliest mass shooting in American history in a year that has already seen 147 mass shootings and 6,358 Americans killed by gun violence, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) joined Congressional colleagues today in a protest on the House Floor to demand that Speaker Paul Ryan and the House Republican Majority not leave the Capitol before allowing an up or down vote on gun violence prevention legislation.  He issued the following statement from the floor of the House where he has been part of the historic “sit in” to demand congressional action to reduce gun violence:

“Today is my proudest day as a member of Congress because we are finally standing up and demanding action on one of the most critical issues facing our country:  the gun violence epidemic.  This kind of congressional sit-in has never happened before, but it is necessary today.  With thousands of Americans dying from rampant gun violence every year, and with homegrown terrorists increasingly exploiting easy access to powerful assault weapons to inflict carnage, we cannot wait any longer for a vote on the “no fly, no buy” bill to deny guns to suspected terrorists.  Speaker Ryan can cut off our microphones, cut the TV cameras, and retreat to his office, but he cannot silence our voices.  Because in this moment, on this issue, the growing chorus of voices ringing out on the floor of the House of Representatives is the voice of the American people.  And it will only grow louder.  We will not break for a congressional ‘recess’ until we are allowed to vote on the commonsense, bipartisan bill to reduce gun violence.”  

Rep. Huffman joined Congressman John Lewis and dozens of other Democrats in a sit-in today on the House floor to urge an immediate vote on common-sense gun legislation that has been stalled for years. This protest comes after the Senate voted down four different bills to address gun violence on Monday night.

House Republicans have now voted 13 times to block consideration of the bipartisan ‘No Fly, No Buy’ legislation. With House Republicans’ continued obstruction, the FBI and the Attorney General are not currently allowed to prevent suspected terrorists from buying lethal firearms and explosives. The ‘No Fly, No Buy’ bill ends this loophole – giving the Department of Justice the ability to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of would-be terrorists.  

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