Oct. 4 (UPI) — House Democrats gathered on Capitol Hill demanding gun control legislation after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, of California, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Dem., attended the event, along with other House Democrats.
Those lawmakers took turns demanding for tightened firearm restrictions and criticizing Republicans for what they described as inaction following repeated acts of gun violence.
Lewis said Congress failed the American people by not already passing gun control legislation.
“How many more must die? What is your blood price?” Lewis said. “Bring common sense gun control legislation to a vote. We need it and we need it now.”
Giffords, who was critically injured in a 2011 shooting, called for Democrats and Republicans to be responsible.
“We must never stop fighting,” Giffords said. “Be bold. Be courageous. The nation is counting on you.”
Thompson criticized a bill he called “dangerous,” which is currently up for consideration in the House and would eliminate the federal requirement to acquire a license before buying a gun silencer. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has said there are no plans to bring the bill to a House vote anytime soon.
On Tuesday, Senate Democrats also ramped up the call for gun control initiatives, specifically blaming the National Rifle Association.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, said “the reason we don’t have gun safety measures in the United States today is because of the National Rifle Association.”
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday it wasn’t appropriate to politicize the Las Vegas shooting that left 59 dead and more than 500 injured.
