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Ryan criticizes Dems for walking out during moment of silence

by Rebecca Savransky - 06/15/16 8:52 PM ET

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Wednesday criticized the House Democrats who walked out of the chamber Monday during a moment of silence held to remember the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting that left 49 dead and many more wounded.

“I think they were trying to bring attention to themselves to talk about gun control,” Ryan said Wednesday on Fox News’s “The O’Reilly Factor.”

{mosads}”I don’t think after the worst terrorist attack since 9/11, the greatest mass-shooting … we know at least it was inspired by ISIS, I don’t think the answer is to walk out,” he said.

Ryan said people should be able pay their respects to the victims of the attack and their loved ones.

“Not to try to redirect attention to compromising law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights,” Ryan said. “I think that’s what they did, and I think they brought attention to themselves, and I don’t think that that was appropriate.”

Ryan said those who walked out knew they were in violation of the rules.

After Ryan led the House in a moment of silence Monday, the chamber erupted into shouting, with Democrats protesting over the lack of votes to restrict guns after repeated mass shootings.

“Where’s the bill?” Democrats chanted.

“Show some respect,” others shouted.

Some Democrats walked out, including Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), who said he wouldn’t take part in any more moments of silence to protest the lack of legislative responses to mass shootings.

Tags Paul Ryan