This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The sit-in staged by congressional Democrats to force the House of Representatives to debate and vote on bills to prevent weapons sales to suspected terrorists is good political theater, but it is misguided as a strategy for performing the work of governing.
There will be no vote. Republicans have demonstrated by their opposition to the bills that they will not take steps to prevent gun manufacturers and dealers from selling weapons to suspected terrorists. Unwilling to vote on the record lest it be remembered after the next mass shooting, they will keep the bills off the floor.
I am reminded of the last temper tantrum thrown by our elected representatives. In October 2013, Republicans refused to pass a budget because it included funds for health care for the needy.
It is ironic that those same Republicans who self-righteously shut down the U.S. government for two weeks are now loudly condemning Democrats for temporarily obstructing the aisles in the House chamber.
George Sumner
Salt Lake City