WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democrats staged a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday, trying to force House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow votes on three key gun control issues.
Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., started the sit-in around 11:25 a.m., urging his fellow Democrats to join him.
"We have lost hundreds and thousands of people to gun violence, and what has this body done?" Lewis asked. "Mr. Speaker, nothing."
The sit-in brought House business to a halt as Ryan called a recess and ordered cameras inside the chambers shut off.
Democrats resorted to social media to broadcast their sit-in and their messages live.
Sitting among the Democrats was Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla. The congressman from Orlando read the names of all 49 people who were shot and killed inside the Pulse nightclub.
"It's far too easy to kill far too many people far too quickly in America today," Grayson told News 6 by phone Wednesday night.
Grayson said Democrats want votes on three key measures: reinstating the assault weapons ban, preventing people on the government's "no-fly" list from purchasing firearms and closing loopholes on background checks.
Ryan said he would block any vote that aims to take away the constitutional rights of Americans.