Times-Herald: Thompson leads Dems in sit-in over gun control

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and other House Democrats held a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday, demanding that Republican leadership allow a vote on what they’re calling bipartisan, common sense legislation to prevent gun violence.

Thompson led the effort along with Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, Thompson spokeswoman Megan Rabbit said.

“They are occupying the floor of the House Chamber,” Rabbit said. “Some are sitting on the floor and others are standing in the well (in front of the podium), and they’ve been there since 11:25 a.m. (Wednesday).”

With the House in recess, there was no vote Wednesday.

“How long they’ll be there is unclear,” Rabbit said. “The message is ‘give us a vote. We’re gonna sit here until you give us a vote.”

Thompson said, “In the wake of the worst mass shooting in our country’s history, the American people deserve more than a moment of silence from their elected representatives. They deserve a Congress that will put partisan politics aside and pass bipartisan, common sense legislation to help keep guns out of dangerous hands.”

Thompson insists that most Americans “support legislation to close the dangerous loopholes that allow suspected terrorists, criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill to buy firearms.”

The group’s “sit-in” represents “a simple appeal to Republican Leadership: Give us a vote. What is the Republican majority afraid of?” he said.

Thompson said House Democrats are calling on Speaker Ryan and House Republicans to allow an immediate vote on two bills: The bipartisan King-Thompson bill (H.R. 1217), designed to close a loophole in the background check system that allows criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill to bypass a background check in 34 states when purchasing guns online or at a gun show, he said.

The second measure, the bipartisan “No Fly, No Buy” bill (H.R. 1076), would prohibit individuals on the FBI’s Terrorists Watchlist from being able to legally purchase guns, Thompson said.

Thompson represents California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, Lake and Sonoma counties.