An unprecedented sit-in on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Congressman John Lewis, D-Ga., over failure to call a vote on gun controls was met by House Republicans calling for adjournment and shutting off CSPAN.
Gun control is a public policy issue that Community Word and Peoria NAACP discussed at a free public screening of “Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA” on May 26. Just 18 days after this documentary was screened in Peoria, there was a mass shooting in Orlando leaving 49 dead and 53 injured.
There have been 15 mass shootings so far in Florida this year. Illinois has had 11 mass shootings so far this year.
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos joined the sit-in. Here is a release from her office:
Bustos Joins Sit-In Protest on the Floor of the House to Demand a Vote on Legislation to Reduce Gun Violence
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos joined her colleagues to protest the Republican Majority’s inaction on legislation that would reduce gun violence. At issue are several common sense bills that would help protect Americans against terrorism, mass shootings and everyday instances of gun violence on our streets. One of the bills, H.R. 1076, the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act, or the “No Fly / No Buy” bill, would prevent anyone on the no fly list from purchasing a deadly weapon. Another key piece of legislation is H.R. 1217, the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act which would require criminal background checks on all gun sales to prevent violent offenders from getting deadly weapons.
Because the Republican Majority put the House in recess to turn off CSPAN’s cameras during the sit-in protest, as a former journalist, Bustos took it upon herself to start interviewing members of Congress on her Snapchat account.
You can watch those videos at repcheri on SnapChat.
“Too many mothers and fathers have lost their children to gun violence and they deserve more than thoughts and prayers, they deserve action,” said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. “That’s why I’m participating in the sit-in protest to demand Congress hold a vote to close loophole that allows suspected terrorists to buy guns, and a vote expanding criminal background checks to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of violent offenders. Americans are sick of inaction from Republicans in Washington and they deserve a vote on common sense proposals to protect our families.”
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