WASHINGTON — House Democrats ended their sit-in on the floor of the House after more than 24-hours of chants and speeches advocating for stricter gun control measures.
Speaker Paul Ryan excoriated Democrats Thursday morning for disrupting the business of the House as the minority party's sit-in to protest inaction on gun violence moved into its second day.
Some Democrats vowed to to continue their civil disobedience when the House reconvenes after its July Fourth break.
"This is something that is far beyond politics," Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., told MSNBC on Thursday morning. "Most Democrats represent urban areas, and urban areas are particularly affected by gun violence." Yarmuth suggested Democrats may suspend their sit-in Thursday but resume it after the recess.
Ryan told reporters Thursday that Democrats "are descending (House) into chaos — I don't think this should be a very proud moment for democracy." Ryan forced several quick votes in the pre-dawn hours Thursday over loud Democratic objections. He said he would prefer to have allowed debate on those measures, particualrly a funding bill to address the Zika virus, but Democrats were not interested in particiapting in real debate.
"We are not going to allow stunts like this to stop us from carrying out the people's business," he said. Asked if Democrats could be punished for breaking House rules banning video on the floor, Ryan said "We're reviewing everything right now...to ensure we can bring order to this chaos."
The extraordinary protest by more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers — led by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.,—began about 11 a.m. Wednesday, bringing legislative business to a halt and triggering a chaotic, late-night showdown as the lawmakers demanded a vote on gun control legislation.
“Let’s do the right thing,’’ Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said Thursday morning. Referring to Republicans, he said, “They can run, but they’re not going to be able to hide from these issues."
Republicans have called the the sit-in a publicity stunt, and Ryan said Thursday it's "now a fundraising scheme."
Led by Ryan, GOP lawmakers regained control of the floor at 10 p.m. Wednesday as Democrats shouted "Shame! Shame!" and sang "We Shall Overcome." GOP lawmakers adjourned the House at 3 a.m. Thursday, following a 239-171 vote to approve $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus. The House is now out of session until July 5.
But Democrats have still refused to leave the floor.
Thursday morning, the Democrats continued to break House rules by using cell phones to videotape fellow protesters making speeches and to post comments on Twitter, all part of their effort to build public support for their cause. The House cameras were turned off, so C-SPAN for a second day was broadcasting video of the protest being livestreamed from the floor by lawmakers using Facebook and Periscope.
"The House did not adjourn without a message being delivered," Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said. "That there is an epidemic of gun violence in America and that we need to pass legislation to make America and Americans safer."
During the sit-in, the Democrats took turns talking about gun violence and ticked off mass shootings in Newtown, Conn., Charleston, S.C., San Bernardino, Calif., and Orlando, Fla., where Omar Mateen slaughtered 49 people and injured 53 others June 12.
“What is the tipping point?" Lewis, his voice rising with emotion, said as he led the sit-in Wednesday morning. "Are we blind? Can we see? How many more mothers, how many more fathers need to shed tears of grief before we do something?"
Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, attempted to gavel the House into order at noon Wednesday, but when the Democrats refused to quiet, he gaveled the House into recess instead.
On Monday, four gun-control measures failed to advance in the Senate, mostly along party lines.
Hope for any movement there on gun laws has shifted to a proposed compromise spearheaded by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, that would prevent people on no-fly lists from buying guns. The measure would affect roughly 2,700 Americans, a smaller subset than those on terror watch lists covered by two of the bills rejected Monday. And it would allow individuals denied firearms to appeal in court.
Contributing: Erin Kelly
