State of the Union: Titus will leave guest seat empty in protest of gun control inaction

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Once again, a seat at the State of the Union will be empty.

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, will leave her guest chair open at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday to honor of the victims and survivors of the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas. Titus did the same during the 2018 speech.

“Over a year has passed since the deadliest shooting in modern American history, and Republicans in Congress have refused to take action to reduce gun violence,” Titus said in a statement. “Now that Democrats control the House, we will pass laws that expand background checks and ban bump stocks. I hope President Trump notices this empty seat and recognizes the deadly consequences of inaction.”

Titus has represented Nevada’s 1st Congressional District since 2013 and previously represented the state’s 3rd Congressional District. She has long been supportive of gun control measures — including increased background checks and bans on assault weapons.