Several House Democrats are done with moments of silence.
The United States House of Representatives held a moment of silence on Monday for the 49 who were killed in a massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday morning, after which Himes and other Democrats shouted in protest at the lack of action by legislators after the fact.
SEE ALSO:Orlando attack is a 'wake-up call' to stop dehumanizing LGBT people, advocates say"Where's the bill?" one of the representatives shouted, presumably in reference to the lack of new gun control bills proposed in the wake of the mass-shooting.
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House Speaker Paul Ryan whacked his gavel to try to calm the crowd, though the shouting continued for around two minutes.
Several Connecticut Democrats walked off the House floor during the moment of silence. In 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 27 people -- including many children and teachers -- at a school in Newtown, Connecticut.
Rep. Jim Himes, who organized the walkout among fellow Connecticut members of Congress, called moments of silence “obnoxious expressions of smug incompetence” when they come from elected officials.
"I will no longer stand here absorbing the faux concern, contrived gravity and tepid smugness of a House complicit in the weekly bloodshed," Himes said.
Democrats including President Barack Obama have pushed for gun control legislation after many mass shootings over the past several years, though no legislation has made significant headway in Congress.
"It's becoming grotesque," said Rep. Joe Courtney, who walked out of the moment of silence along with Himes. "The same chamber, which ought to be activated and engaged in a common sense response, instead we get this 16-second blink of an eye as a substitute."
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(责任编辑：熱點)