Rockland Congresswoman Sits In for Gun Control

Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey was among those leading the charge during yesterday’s historic House demonstration

Westchester/Rockland Congresswoman Nita Lowey is no stranger to the fight for more gun reform. And yesterday, the 17th District appointee joined Georgia Congressman John Lewis and dozens of their Democratic colleagues in the historic #NoBillNoBreak sit-in demonstration that took place for nearly 17 hours (concluding in the wee hours this morning) on the House of Representatives floor. 

The unprecedented protest was in response to four new gun-control measures—all proposed following the previous week’s horrific mass shooting in Orlando—failing to get through the Senate this past Sunday. It also coincided with Rep. Lowey introducing an amendment to an existing Homeland Security Appropriations Bill before the House Appropriations Committee (of which she is a ranking member) dubbed “No Fly No Buy.” Per a release, the suggested legislation would give “the attorney general the authority to block the sale of firearms to known or suspected terrorists, if the attorney general has a reasonable belief that the firearm would be used in connection with terrorism” and “requires the Attorney General to establish procedures to ensure that the DOJ [Department of Justice] is promptly notified if an individual who has been investigated for terrorism at any point in the past five years attempts to purchase a firearm.”

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This is the sixth time Rep. Lowey has brought this amendment to the House, and according to her Chief of Staff, Elizabeth Stanley, “She planned since Orlando to offer her provision in Committee.” Lowey joined #NoBillNoBreak immediately after said Committee session, along with New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, both of whom had voted in favor of last weekend’s measures. 

Amid the demonstration, Lowey reinforced to Hudson Valley that residents in our area should remain vigilant on the issue, as, “Just across the border in Newtown, too many families are still mourning the loss of innocent children and teachers. Terror and hate know no state borders, and we have to act to protect all Americans from gun violence.” 

The House finally adjourned just prior to 3:30 a.m. until after the July 4 holiday. No votes on gun control were raised.  

Photo courtesy of Congresswoman Lowey

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