Gov. Maggie Hassan joined a dozen Democratic state representatives as they staged a House sit-in Thursday to protest a lack of federal action on gun control.
“Citizens tell us they want rational gun laws and sensible solutions. They don’t want weapons of war on our city streets,” said Democratic Rep. Jackie Cilley of Barrington.
The protest was organized as a show of solidarity with congressional Democrats, who had been carrying out a sit-in for more than 25 hours to demand votes on gun control bills.
Hassan, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, arrived at the sit-in to applause.
“I am very grateful you are here to raise awareness about the needs for common-sense gun measures,” Hassan said, speaking from the House floor.
Hassan, who is running to unseat Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, said Congress should vote to expand background checks for firearm purchases and restrict people on federal no-fly lists from buying guns. She said the “common-sense” steps would make the country “more secure.”
The sit-in at Representatives Hall began after 10 a.m., and ended about 2 p.m. Hassan left immediately after her remarks. The protest was occasionally interrupted by visitors, who passed through the House chamber on a tour through the State House.
Democrat Reps. Renny Cushing and Katherine Rogers organized the event late Wednesday night, after watching the protest unfold in Washington, D.C.
“We decided we had to do something, we had to form our own sit-in here in New Hampshire,” said Rogers, of Concord.
The representatives called on Congress to expand background checks for firearm sales, to put restrictions on some types of assault weapons and to limit gun sales to people on terror watch lists. They cited recent shootings in San Bernardino, Calif., and Newtown, Conn., as reasons for reform.
“What is it going to take for people to realize that we’ve got to do something?” said Hopkinton Rep. Mel Myler, a Democrat. “Republicans always talk about listening to the people, they need to stop listening to the (National Rifle Association) and listen to their constituents.”
Unlike their Congressional counterparts, state Democratic representatives didn’t face pushback from their Republican colleagues. House Chief of Staff Terry Pfaff unlocked the House chamber door Thursday morning for Democrats to enter. The House wrapped up legislative work last week, and members are not expected to come back to Concord for a session day until next year.
The sit-ins come in the wake of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando that left 49 people dead. A divided U.S. Senate blocked several partisan efforts this week meant to curb firearm sales to people on terror watch lists and to expand or improve the background check system.
Several Democratic lawmakers from the Concord-area showed up to the sit-in, including Boscawen Rep. Caroletta Alicea, Concord Rep. Christy Bartlett and Hopkinton Rep. David Luneau.
Hassan vetoed a Republican-backed bill this year that would have removed a state license requirement for carrying a concealed gun. She signed a bill that will allow hunters to use suppressors while shooting deer and other game.
(Allie Morris can be reached at 369-3307 or amorris@cmonitor.com.)