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“John Lewis is a true hero. No one in Congress has done more throughout the course of their life to stand up for justice and righteousness,” said Murphy, who joined other members on the House floor. “I’m proud of my Democratic colleagues in the House today. We will not alter the way Congress responds to the mass slaughter of our constituents without ripping up the usual script and demanding change. We forced Senate Republicans to allow votes to keep guns away from dangerous people – the House should not go on vacation until Speaker Ryan and House Republicans do the same.”
Gun control has been a top issue for Connecticut lawmakers following the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, where 20 first-graders and six educators died.
U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) took part in the sit-in, saying the people are demanding a vote.
“Since the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, more than 100,000 Americans have been lost to gun violence. And in that time the House has done nothing," Esty said. "We cannot continue to watch in silence as Americans lose their lives to senseless violence – not when we have the power to act. We demand a vote.”
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also joined in the effort Wednesday.
“I was proud to walk over and join my colleagues in the House - led by Congressmen John Lewis and my fellow Members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation - today in demanding action," Blumenthal said. "Gun violence is a public health epidemic that is killing our constituents, and Congress’s refusal to address it is nothing short of a profound injustice. Like the Senate filibuster I helped to lead last week, the House sit-in is a powerful demonstration of our responsibility not to give up, not to relent in calling for action to end the horror show of death and injury that Congress’s failure has perpetuated.”
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