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| Democrats hold Congress 'sit-in' protest to force gun control vote | Democrats hold Congress 'sit-in' protest to force gun control vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Democrats in the US Congress are refusing to leave the floor of the House of Representatives in order to force a vote on gun control laws. | Democrats in the US Congress are refusing to leave the floor of the House of Representatives in order to force a vote on gun control laws. |
| Nearly 100 lawmakers are staging the protest, demanding expanded background checks and the blocking of gun sales to terror suspects. | Nearly 100 lawmakers are staging the protest, demanding expanded background checks and the blocking of gun sales to terror suspects. |
| It follows the shooting of 49 people at a nightclub in Florida this month. | It follows the shooting of 49 people at a nightclub in Florida this month. |
| Senators are pushing for a compromise, with top Democratic Senator Harry Reid supporting a Republican proposal. | |
| Mr Reid said he supported new legislation proposed by Republican Senator Susan Collins that that would stop gun sales to a limited number of people who are on some terrorism watch lists. | |
| "Even though it may be a small step forward, at least it is a step forward," Mr Reid said in a statement. | |
| 'No bill, no break' | |
| Republicans, who control Congress, called a recess which forced the cameras to be switched off. | Republicans, who control Congress, called a recess which forced the cameras to be switched off. |
| So the protesters took their message online. Some are tweeting pictures and one Congressman has been streaming video using the Periscope app. | |
| The effort is being led by John Lewis, a veteran of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. | The effort is being led by John Lewis, a veteran of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. |
| Four bills since the attack in Orlando have failed to pass the Senate, but a compromise bill with some support from both parties is due to come before the Senate on Thursday. | Four bills since the attack in Orlando have failed to pass the Senate, but a compromise bill with some support from both parties is due to come before the Senate on Thursday. |
| President Barack Obama took to Twitter to thank Mr Lewis "for leading on gun violence where we need it most". | President Barack Obama took to Twitter to thank Mr Lewis "for leading on gun violence where we need it most". |
| Legislators chanted "no bill, no break" and sang 1960s protest songs. | Legislators chanted "no bill, no break" and sang 1960s protest songs. |
| "What has this body done [to respond to the violence]?'' Mr Lewis asked, referring to several failed efforts in the past week to pass a gun control bill. | |
| "Nothing. We have turned a deaf ear to the blood of innocents. We are blind to a crisis. Where is our courage? How many more mothers... and fathers need to shed tears of grief?" | "Nothing. We have turned a deaf ear to the blood of innocents. We are blind to a crisis. Where is our courage? How many more mothers... and fathers need to shed tears of grief?" |
| "Rise up Democrats, rise up Americans,'' Connecticut Representative John Larson said to his colleagues. | "Rise up Democrats, rise up Americans,'' Connecticut Representative John Larson said to his colleagues. |
| Connecticut is the state where 20 children and six adults were shot dead in 2012 at the Sandy Hook primary school. | |
| "We will occupy this chamber," Mr Larson told his colleagues before cameras were switched off. | |
| A spokesperson for Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the House, tweeted: "The House cannot operate without members following the rules of the institution, so the House has recessed subject to the call of the chair." | |
| The lawmakers want a vote to be held before the scheduled break at the end of the week, ending on 5 July. | The lawmakers want a vote to be held before the scheduled break at the end of the week, ending on 5 July. |