Rep. Cedric Richmond Cedric Levon RichmondHillicon Valley: Productivity, fatigue, cybersecurity emerge as top concerns amid pandemic | Facebook critics launch alternative oversight board | Google to temporarily bar election ads after polls close Underwood takes over as chair of House cybersecurity panel Rep. Bill Pascrell named chair of House oversight panel MORE (D-La.) on Friday evening expressed frustration with Congress’s inability thus far to pass gun control legislation following a number of mass shootings, arguing the public should put pressure on hesitant Republicans.

“I believe that the will of the American people can overpower obstruction in the Senate by the Senate majority leader in terms of bringing bills to the floor to a vote,” Richmond said on CNN. “We have cities that are banning plastic straws, and we can’t ban assault weapons? That just doesn’t make sense to me.”

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“We need the American people to join with us, especially all of these senators, including [Sen.] Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' House to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Republican lawyers brush off Trump's election comments MORE [R-Ky.], who’s up for reelection, and let him know that this is our will and if you stand in the way of it, we will get it done with you or without you,” he added, referring to the Senate majority leader.

"We live in a country where we have cities...that are banning plastic straws, but we can't ban assault weapons? I mean, that just doesn't make sense to me." - Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond on the House Judiciary Committee cutting recess short to take up new gun measures pic.twitter.com/B7MDsmo2ic — CNN (@CNN) August 16, 2019

McConnell has historically been reluctant to bring gun control up for a vote, though he said this month after two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, that gun background checks and so-called red flag laws would be “front and center” when the upper chamber returns next month from its August recess.

Richmond and other Republicans have lamented the Kentucky Republican’s hesitancy to bring two House-passed gun control bills for a vote and have called for Congress to take further action, including banning assault rifles and capping the size of magazines.

The House Judiciary Committee, on which Richmond sits, announced Friday it will cut its August recess short to host a markup hearing on three gun violence prevention bills that would, among other things, ban the use of high capacity ammunition magazines. The panel will also hold a hearing on military-style assault weapons later in September.