Engel joins protest against inaction on gun control

Rep. Elliot Engel joined a host of Democrats on the House of Representatives’ floor during a 26-hour sit-in to protest congressional inaction on gun control last week.

The demonstration began at 11:25 a.m. on June 22 under the leadership of Georgia Rep. John Lewis, the prominent Civil Rights leader, who sought to evoke the spirit of that era. The protest came in the wake of the June 12 mass shooting at a gay nightclub at Orlando, Florida, in which a gunman killed 49 people.

“I was very happy to sit on the floor and I don’t think anyone in Congress has ever sat on that floor, so that was a first for me,” said Mr. Engel, whose Bronx and Westchester district includes Riverdale. “It was a good feeling. I felt like we were accomplishing things.”

Nevertheless, the Democrats did not manage to compel majority Republicans to bring gun control measures up for a vote. At the start of the protest, they chanted “No bill, no break” as the Republicans adjourned until Tuesday, July 5.

“We didn’t know how the Republicans would react. They ultimately reacted by shutting down — they didn’t shut the lights, but they shut down the microphone and the speaker system,” Mr. Engel said in a phone interview. “They shut the cameras, and so they thought nobody would know what was going on.”

A number of Democrats began broadcasting the protest on the Periscope app, which allowed C-SPAN to pick up the feed. Many members gave speeches, which lasted overnight.

“This was done primarily because we feel strongly about the issue and we feel that sensible gun control is supported by the vast majority of people and we want votes on the floor,” Mr. Engel said. “Since they keep denying it, it does show what the Republican leadership stands for and the fact that they won’t give us a vote is disgraceful.”

The congressman contended that a series of bills, including one that would bar people on terror watch lists and no-fly lists from buying guns, would pass if put up for a vote.

“If you are one of these lists with ties to terrorists, why would we even consider allowing these people to buy guns?” he said. “They want to protect their members — the Republicans do — [from] being on record as supporting the National Rifle Association over their constituents… They would rather avoid the vote so that there would be no record of their members having voted against this routine, minimal gun control package.”

Mr. Engel said it is difficult to protest in the House, explaining that rules are stricter there than in the Senate. On June 15, Senate Democrats held a 15-hour filibuster calling for a vote on gun control measures. Four bills were ultimately voted down. 

“There is really no effective way of forcing any kind of a vote [in the House],” Mr. Engel said.