A Democratic Congressman has said that the institution is in the "thrall" of the National Rifle Association.

Representative Jim Himes said on CNN that he feels the response to the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in which 17 people died will be "perfectly predictable."

Mr Himes said after an offering of "thoughts and prayers" the Congress "will do absolutely nothing" since many members of Congress receive campaign contributions from the powerful gun owners' membership organisation.

He said he was speaking from experience since he represents the state of Connecticut, where the tragic 2014 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, took place where 20 children between six and seven years old as well as six adults were killed by a gunman.

There is a "sense of resignation" here, Mr Himes said.

Mr Himes appeared frustrated and said that the lack of action is "the kind of thing that — at least those of us who believe that the government has the power to probably reduce this kind of violence — it's the kind of thing that really hits you right in the gut."

"20 dead babies in Connecticut wasn't enough to move the heart of this place," Mr Himes said in reference to the Sandy Hook massacre.

Emotional mum makes passionate plea to America on gun laws after Florida school shooting

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA spent $3.2m in lobbying in 2016, a little over $1m in campaign contributions, and over $54m in "outside spending," which is money spent "against candidates" who do not favour gun ownership rights.

Nearly half of the organisation's registered federal lobbyists have also been government employees at some point.

"Any person with a heart, any person with a soul, would say that this institution should do to try to prevent what happened today," Mr Himes said, adding that nearly every other country in the world has taken measures to reduce gun violence.

Florida shooting – in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting – in pictures Florida shooting – in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting – in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting – in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting – in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting – in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting – in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

Mr Himes was not the only Democrat angry about the lack of response from the federal government on curbing access to weapons and ammunition.

Democratic Representative Seth Moulton called on US President Donald Trump to "get off his ass and join me in trying to do something about it" in response to the President's tweet sending his condolences to the victims' families in Parkland, Florida.

Police have arrested the suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the high school who had been expelled due to bad behaviour.

Mr Moulton also hit out at House Speaker Paul Ryan in the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas during which 58 people were killed and nearly 500 injured.