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Speaker Paul Ryan had harsh words for House Democrats after their sit-in for gun safety legislation last week. "We will not take this. We will not tolerate this," he said, kind of sort of hinting potential consequences. Here's the consequence: Votes on gun safety legislation.
The House will vote on a counter-terrorism package that will include a provision to prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns, Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., told Republicans on a conference call Thursday, according to a source on the call.
The House, when it returns next week from its July 4 recess, will also vote on a mental health bill, sponsored by Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, Ryan told his House colleagues. […]
[…] It's unclear whether Ryan's proposal would include the broad "no fly, no buy" proposal Democrats have supported or a more limited version endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
On the call, Ryan said it common sense that suspects on terror watch lists not be able to buy guns, but wanted to be sure that any provision protects due process.
There's yet another Republican, only worried about due process for watch list suspects if being on the list might mean they can't get their hands on an assault weapon. Ryan can't bring real gun safety legislation to the House floor because neither the NRA nor the extremists in his caucus will let him.
But this is a good initial outcome for Rep. John Lewis and the rest of the Democrats who joined him in the protest—they forced Ryan's hand to hold the votem and they can expose just how hollow his efforts will be. It just gives them more momentum in pushing this issue.