As the House of Representatives attempted to observe yet another moment of silence for the victims of a mass shooting, Democrats erupted in protest at Republicans’ refusal to debate any attempts to curb gun violence in the United States.
“The chair asks that the House now observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack in Orlando,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Monday, one day after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Led by Connecticut Representative Jim Himes, who earlier in the day called such empty gestures following mass shootings “obnoxious expressions of smug incompetence,” several House Democrats walked out of the chamber in the middle of the moment of silence:
The House just observed a moment of silence in memory of those killed in the terrorist attack in #Orlando.https://t.co/MqS94hk68V
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) June 13, 2016
House Minority Whip James Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina, then asked Ryan for recognition to inquire when bills curbing gun use would be considered ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Charleston church shooting this week.
“I am really concerned that we have just today had a moment of silence and later this week the 17th…,” Clyburn began to say. But before Clyburn could finish, Ryan ruled his question out of order and directed the House to move to the next vote. Shouts of protest then erupted from the House floor.
“Where’s the bill?” Democrats angrily shouted, before chanting “No leadership!” to the Speaker in unison:
“For us to be silent when these things happen rather than fashioning some legislative response, to me, is just not good,” Clyburn later told reporters.
According to the speaker’s office, Clyburn was out of order under House rules and was not making a proper motion or inquiry.
“It’s shameful that anyone would try to use a moment of silence honoring victims of a brutal terrorist attack to advance their own political agenda,” Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said.
Clyburn wanted the Republican controlled House to consider closing the so-called “Charleston loophole,” which is how shooter Dylann Rood was legally allowed to obtain the gun that killed 9 churchgoers nearly one year ago. As it stands now, the FBI performs background checks on gun buyers in South Carolina and if the check isn’t denied or completed in three days, the gun seller can still sell the gun to the prospective buyer.
“Members have just had enough of having a moment of silence on the floor and take no action,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said to reporters after the vote.
We just observed a moment of silence for the #Orlando victims. Then @SpeakerRyan refused to act to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists.
— Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) June 13, 2016
Why I'm refusing the moment of silence. #NoMoreSilence Read: https://t.co/pSKUie0jVk pic.twitter.com/NTnFEokK3r
— Katherine Clark (@WhipKClark) June 13, 2016
The victims of #Orlando deserve more than a moment of silence from Congress. They deserve moments of courage & action. #WheresTheBill
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) June 13, 2016
I will not attend one more"Moment of Silence" on the Floor. Our silence does not honor the victims, it mocks them. pic.twitter.com/VWWdOkliWN
— Jim Himes 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@jahimes) June 13, 2016
