Congressional Democrats ended their 25-hour sit-in on the House floor this afternoon, failing to force a vote on two pieces of gun legislation. The controversial sit-in included 26 Democratic lawmakers who themselves own guns, Heat Street learned after examining 2013 USA Today data on congressional firearms ownership. The participants also included 12 more Democrats in Congress who either didn’t respond to USA Today’s gun survey or declined to say whether or not they possessed a firearm.
The sit-in, launched by civil-rights leader Rep. John Lewis, centered on two pieces of proposed gun legislation. One would expand background checks to cover all commercial gun sales; the other seeks tougher prohibitions against gun purchases for terror suspects.
The participation of Democratic gun owners can be viewed as the pursuit of reasonable compromise by left-wing firearm fans—or, potentially, as hypocrisy.
Here are some past posts about guns by weapons-owning Dems who participated in the sit-in.
Saw #MakingaKilling, how greedy gun makers & NRA make $$ dealing death, then legally bribe fake pols for protection pic.twitter.com/X4K9pKY8SL
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) March 16, 2016
We have responsibility to do what we can to prevent gun violence. Let's start by closing loophole allowing terrorists to purchase weapons.
— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) June 13, 2016
Americans are depending on us to help prevent gun violence. We need universal background checks so that the deranged can’t buy a gun.
— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) June 9, 2014
I'm heading to the floor to discuss how I will vote on key gun safety proposals including the assault weapons ban. http://t.co/XDK3ppnif5
— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) April 17, 2013
Pres. Obama has put forward a comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence in the U.S. I support his proposal. http://t.co/BYej5600 #netDE
— Rep. John Carney (@JohnCarneyDE) January 16, 2013
Been a hunter my whole life. We can respect 2nd amendment rights & reduce gun violence http://t.co/FHTw4jt9 @Cory_Golden
— John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) December 22, 2012
Why #holdthefloor? Violent felons & terrorists can purchase gun online & at gun shows w/o background check. Need UNIVERSAL background checks
— John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) June 22, 2016
Here’s the full list of Democratic gun owners who participated.
• Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick
• Rep. Bennie Thompson
• Rep. Dina Titus
• Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger
• Rep. Jared Huffman
• Rep. Jim Cooper
• Rep. Jim Costa
• Rep. John Carney
• Rep. John Garamendi
• Rep. Keith Ellison
• Rep. Mike Thompson
• Rep. Peter DeFazio
• Rep. Peter Welch
• Rep. Rick Nolan
• Rep. Ron Kind
• Rep. Steve Cohen
• Rep. Tim Ryan
• Sen. Gary Peters
• Sen. Harry Reid
• Sen. Mark Warner
• Sen. Martin Heinrich
• Sen. Patrick Leahy
• Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
• Sen. Tammy Baldwin
• Sen. Tim Kaine
• Sen. Tom Carper
— Jillian Kay Melchior writes for Heat Street and is a fellow for the Independent Women’s Forum and the Steamboat Institute.