Rep. Thompson, House Democrats Sit-in on the House Floor to Demand a Vote on Legislation to Prevent Gun Violence

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) and Democratic Members from the House of Representatives are sitting-in on the House floor to demand that Republican Leadership allow a vote on bipartisan, commonsense legislation to prevent gun violence.

"In the wake of the worst mass shooting in our country's history, the American people deserve more than a moment of silence from their elected representatives," said Thompson. "They deserve a Congress that will put partisan politics aside and pass bipartisan, commonsense legislation to help keep guns out of dangerous hands. The overwhelming majority of the American people support legislation to close the dangerous loopholes that allow suspected terrorists, criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill to buy firearms. Our sit-in represents a simple appeal to Republican Leadership: give us a vote. What is the Republican Majority afraid of?"

House Democrats are calling on Speaker Ryan and House Republicans to allow an immediate vote on bipartisan, commonsense gun violence prevention legislation to help keep guns out of dangerous hands, with two bills:

The bipartisan King-Thompson legislation (H.R. 1217) to close a loophole in our background check system that allows criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill to bypass a background check in thirty-four states when purchasing guns online or at a gun show;

The bipartisan "No Fly, No Buy' bill (H.R. 1076) to prohibit individuals on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Terrorists Watchlist from being able to legally purchase guns.

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