Bill Theobald

Republic Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The emotional high point of Wednesday's sit-in by Democrats on the House floor over gun control came when a letter from shooting victim and former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was read by friend Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz, who choked up several times.

Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Ruben Gallego were among the first House Democrats to join the sit-in to try to force votes on gun-control measures.

The action began about 11:30 a.m. and was expected to last only a few hours. But as the effort garnered more attention — despite the fact the C-SPAN cameras in the chamber were turned off by the Republican majority — more Democrats joined and appeared to be settling in for a lengthy protest.

Members took turns delivering remarks from a podium, and C-SPAN was able to resume carrying video of the event as some Democrats livestreamed video of the speeches from cellphones on the floor of the House.

“It’s inspiring. We needed to do some kind of action outside the norm,” Gallego said during a short interview conducted when he stepped off the floor. He said food and water was being brought in and posted photos of the provisions on his Facebook page.

Gallego spent some of his time moving around the chamber shooting video that also was posted on Facebook. He posted a selfie with Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, but the extent of her participation in the protest was unclear.

Read Gabby Gifford's letter to former House colleagues about gun violence

Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick ended up going to the floor and issued a statement saying the protest was "a reflection of the widespread anger and frustration over congressional inaction on gun violence.”

Gallego accused Republican House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin of lacking “moral courage” for not standing up to the National Rifle Association and allowing votes.

Gallego said he favored starting with legislation that would ban people who are on no-fly lists from buying firearms. He also favors requiring background checks for all gun purchases.

House Democrats' sit-in over gun legislation shows no signs of stopping

Giffords was seriously wounded during a January 2011 mass shooting near Tucson and forced to resign from the House.

“There is nowhere I would rather be right now than with you — on the floor of the people's house, representing southern Arizona, fighting for our country, and working to make our communities safer,” Giffords wrote. “But your action is the balm for my regret — and it is the inspiration for my continued commitment.”

Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, have pushed for changes to gun laws at the national and state level through the group they formed after the shooting, Americans for Responsible Solutions.

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She complimented the Democrats for “great courage."

“Speaking is difficult for me. But I haven't been silenced. And neither should the American people. Their representatives must vote to prevent gun violence,” Giffords wrote in conclusion.