Five House Democrats boycotted a bipartisan moment of silence that was held in honor of the 21 victims of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas in order to push a series of radical gun control proposals.
“We just boycotted the moment of silence on the House floor,” said Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) in a tweet that featured an image of herself standing with Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).
Speier continued, “No more moments of silence without REAL action.”
We just boycotted the moment of silence on the House floor. No more moments of silence without REAL action. pic.twitter.com/RCPswBm1iT
— Jackie Speier (@RepSpeier) June 7, 2022
The moment of silence was organized for all House members to participate by Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), whose represents Uvalde.
Tonight, I asked the House of Representatives to rise to observe a moment of silence for the victims in Uvalde.
May they rest in peace, and may they always be remembered. pic.twitter.com/Jgyb4XUQ18
— Rep. Tony Gonzales (@RepTonyGonzales) June 7, 2022
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Using Another Tragedy to Push Gun Control
Speier and other House Democrats are using the tragedy in Uvalde in another attempt to put forth stricter policies on firearms that would adversely impact law-abiding citizens.
Speier had announced several weeks ago her intention to boycott the moment of silence shortly after it was announced, also tweeting immediately her gun control proposals hours after the massacre took place.
I refuse to participate in another moment of silence on the House floor. I want a moment of action:
1) no guns for anyone under 21;
2) all guns must have trigger locks that require finger print to be discharged;
3) felony charges for anyone who doesn’t safely lock their gun.— Jackie Speier (@RepSpeier) May 24, 2022
RELATED: Democrats Looking to Rush Gun Control Bills
Democrats used this tragedy to usher support for the “Protect Our Kids Act,” which consists of eight separate bills that range in legislation that would impact the buying age of semi-automatic weapons, the creation of a registry of bump stocks, banning standard capacity magazines, and other policies they argue would decrease gun-related violence throughout the country.
Some Democrats who attended the moment of silence, such as Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), still took the opportunity to point the spotlight on the upcoming legislation by posting a tweet saying, “Today the House observed a moment of silence to honor those who were taken from us by senseless gun violence. As we work this week to save lives, the people of Uvalde will be in our hearts.”
Two weeks ago today, a community and a nation were shaken by the tragedy in Uvalde. Today the House observed a moment of silence to honor those who were taken from us by senseless gun violence. As we work this week to save lives, the people of Uvalde will be in our hearts. pic.twitter.com/DAH32skZHN
— Rep. Colin Allred (@RepColinAllred) June 7, 2022
Does the “Protect Our Kids Act” Have a Chance of Becoming Law?
The bill managed to pass in the House in a mostly party-line vote of 223-204, but is unlikely to pass in the upper chamber.
However, while this Act might not see victory in the Senate, that doesn’t mean Democrats won’t get their way on some measure of gun control this year.
Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX) have begun bipartisan negotiations regarding a potential bill that could sway Senate Republicans who support concepts such as red flag laws, such senators including Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) who have already spoken in favor them in the wake of the Uvalde shooting.
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