Shootings are always chilling for the citizens no matter where in the world they occur, but for the United States, the Orlando shooting of 2016 was shocking. The disaster left 49 dead, many more injured, and goes down in history as the deadliest mass shooting in the country.
For many, the answer is a rearrangement of gun control, an issue that has been at the forefront of U.S. politics for many years. Many see this as an encroachment on constitutional rights, while others see it as a common sense safety measure to try and combat these disasters. Despite different points of view and suggested reforms, a solution has never been found.
In fact, many have taken action in order to bring about this change, even in the House of Representatives. In the aftermath of the Orlando disaster, a group largely formed of Democrats from the House of Representatives staged a sit-in on the floor of the sessions, singing and chanting as they protested against the lack of progress in bringing gun control to a vote.
The act was led by John Lewis, a Democrat Senator of Georgia, who had been a figure in the Civil Rights movement and protests of the 1960’s. Lewis led the charge, and stated “As the worst mass shooting in our nation's history has underscored, our country cannot afford to stand by while this congress continues to be paralyzed by politics.” A strong tone was set for the near future.