House Democrats ended their sit-in demanding a vote on gun control legislation after 26 hours Thursday, but said the battle for a vote would continue.
For 26 hrs we stood against gun violence. The #SitIn ends, but we're just getting started. Rs can't keep ignoring this debate. #NotOneMore
-- Lois Capps (@RepLoisCapps) June 23, 2016
Social media in the United States filled quickly with messages from both opponents of any new limits on gun sales and citizens frustrated by the lack of action as the Democrats occupied the House floor though a sit-in Wednesday.
House Speaker Paul Ryan called it a "publicity stunt," while Democratic leaders said it was historic, led by Rep. John Lewis, the legendary leader of civil rights protests of the 1960s.
The Democrats had vowed to continue their sit-in until Ryan allows a vote on several gun control measures -- mostly aimed at banning gun sales to people on the federal terror watch list -- which have already been rejected by the Senate. No vote has been taken on any gun control legislation since the GOP took over in 2011, with the exception of an extension on plastic guns.
GOP members voted 16 hours into the sit-in to start the July 4th recess early, but Democrats did not end the protest then. A handful slept on the House floor, waking up Thursday morning determined to stay. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic minority leader, even refused to vacate the chamber long enough for capital security to conduct the routine morning security sweep. A bomb-sniffing dog did the routine sweep around the protesting members of congress.
While C-SPANs cameras shut down because the House is not officially in session, the channel used feeds from Facebook Live and Periscope to cover the sit-in. Scoll down to watch:
