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Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement, in conclusion of sit-in occupation of the House Floor by House Democrats, lasting more than 25 hours. The event was staged in an attempt to force House Speaker Paul D. Ryan to allow a vote on commonsense legislation that prevents future gun violence. Tonko participated in the sit-in for the majority of the 25 hour-plus period and spoke multiple times on the House Floor in support of legislation that makes our communities safer.

"For more than 25 hours, House Democrats joined together to sit-in to demand a vote on commonsense gun violence prevention in our communities. And for more than 25 hours, we were fought every step of the way by Speaker Ryan and the Republican House Majority who turned off our microphones and cameras, screamed at our Members, and staged votes on bills that will never become law before escaping in the dead of night back to their districts.

“Under the leadership of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis, we crossed our first bridge today on the way to making families safer. We will never prevent every single tragedy, but we can work to significantly reduce the scores of mass shootings we see in our nation each year.

“We are not asking for anything outrageous. In fact, we are working to enact policies that more than 80% of Democrats, Republicans and Independents across Americans are demanding: universal background checks and closing the terrorist gun loophole while ensuring due process and the protection of civil liberties.

“Finally, to Speaker Ryan and those who derisively refer to this event led by Congressman Lewis as a "political stunt", I would urge them to think twice before lecturing a man who has literally bled for our country and the health of its democracy. The real political stunt was turning off the cameras and running out of town in the middle of the night by House Republicans.

“I look forward to continuing this fight and crossing the next bridge on the way to fulfilling our responsibility to keep Americans safe."

Tonko has supported several pieces of commonsense gun safety legislation, including closing the ‘Terrorist Gun Loophole” which allows suspected terrorists to legally buy guns in the United States. The current loophole has allowed more than 2,000 suspects on the FBI Terrorist Watch List to buy guns in the United States over the last 11 years.  In that time, more than 90 percent of all suspected terrorists who tried to buy guns walked away with the weapon that they wanted. 

Since January 2015, House Republicans have voted 13 times against closing the terrorist gun loophole.

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