Democratic Representatives End Their Sit-In in Congress

The sit-in by Democratic representatives in the U.S. Congress protesting gun sales control laws has ended, while the future of these bills remains unclear. However, Democratic representatives state that they will not cease pressure on Republican representatives to hold a vote and change the laws. The Democratic representatives had staged a sit-in for nearly 26 hours starting Wednesday in protest against the Republican majority's indifference to gun control laws. There are two proposed laws regarding the buying and selling of firearms that the Democrats wish to be voted on as soon as possible. One of these proposals expands background checks for individuals wanting to purchase guns, and the second prohibits gun purchases by individuals on terrorist watch lists and no-fly lists. Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the House, condemned the sit-in as a "publicity stunt" and did not allow a vote to take place, instead calling for a session to vote on an unrelated matter just hours before midnight on Wednesday, which angered the Democratic representatives. According to AFP, this protest gained significance after the Orlando massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 49 people at a gay nightclub. The Democratic sit-in began on Wednesday while regular House discussions were ongoing and was disrupted after Nancy Pelosi, the minority leader, joined the protest. Fifteen hours after the sit-in began, the Speaker of the House postponed further sessions for two weeks, and the Republican representatives left the House as the Fourth of July public holiday approached. John Lewis, a Democratic representative who was a companion of Martin Luther King during the famous marches of the 1960s and the leader of Wednesday's sit-in, stated: "The time for silence and patience has long since passed. Do we have the courage to take a small step in controlling gun violence in America?" Katherine Clark, a Democratic representative, told the Boston Globe: "I think we didn’t exactly know what powerful impact our sit-in would have. We want to ensure that this protest is not weakened." Gregory Meeks, a Democratic representative from New York, told CNN that even during the House's recess days, their activities would continue until a vote is finally held on the two proposed laws. In the meantime, Democrats will discuss and decide on how to pursue their strategy. AFP writes that the occurrence of a group of representatives' defiance in the House indicates an escalation of political confrontation amid an unconventional presidential election campaign. Despite knowing that there is no chance for their proposed laws to pass, Democrats emphasize the necessity of stricter laws regarding gun control. In recent years, U.S. Congress representatives, especially Democrats, have proposed numerous bills for gun control, but none have been passed. Ms. Clinton also reacted to the suspension of live broadcasting of sessions due to the House's recess, tweeting: "House Republicans can turn off the cameras, but they will not be able to silence our voices. We must act on gun violence." The Democratic representatives innovatively broadcast their sit-in report via Facebook and Periscope on the congressional television channel. This was the first time that a government media outlet dedicated to congressional discussions aired images from social media. According to law, photography and broadcasting of images from congressional sessions by any other media is prohibited. The Senate also rejected several amendments to gun control laws earlier this week. However, a group of representatives from both parties continues to strive for the passage of an amendment that would prohibit gun purchases for terrorism suspects, individuals on no-fly lists, and FBI suspects.