Rep. Jim Himes James (Jim) Andres HimesMany Democrats want John Bolton's testimony, but Pelosi stays mum SEC's Clayton demurs on firing of Manhattan US attorney he would replace Democrats face tough questions with Bolton MORE (D-Conn.) late Wednesday ripped Congress for its lack of action following multiple mass shootings, saying the institution is in the "thrall" of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Himes said during an interview on CNN that he thinks the response to the Florida shooting that left at least 17 people dead will be "predictable."

He said there will be a moment of silence, lawmakers will offer thoughts and prayers and "then the Congress of the United States will do absolutely nothing."

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"It's 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," he said.

He was pressed on what has been done to deal with these mass shootings by the Congress.

"The honest answer to that question is not a damn thing," he said. "This institution is not going to move ... 20 dead babies in Connecticut wasn't enough to move the heart of this place."

"This place is in the thrall of the NRA," he added.

"The opponents of actually doing the things that we could do — that every other country has done to reduce gun violence — rely on how challenging it is and how easy it is to distract people at times like this to avoid doing something that ... any person with a heart, any person with a soul, would say that this institution should do to try to prevent what happened today."

The shooting Wednesday at a high school in south Florida left at least 17 people dead and even more wounded.

President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE on Wednesday offered his condolences after the shooting.

Multiple lawmakers have called for the Congress to take action on gun violence.