David Hogg, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor and gun control activist, is rallying people on Twitter to contact Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and demand the House vote on universal background checks.
“Tweet your message to Speaker [Paul Ryan] … so our public servants can allow the vote on expansive universal background checks,” Hogg implored on Twitter. In a video attached to the tweet, Hogg addressed Speaker Ryan directly: “I would really love if you actually allowed a vote on the House floor for universal background checks,” Hogg said. “Over 90 percent of Americans support them, and it can help save some lives. Don’t even bother responding to this, just do it,” he added.
Ryan, the leader of the Republican Party in the lower house of Congress, announced on Wednesday that he would be stepping down from his congressional seat come January. Ryan is yet to respond to Hogg, and the additional messages he has received as of Wednesday evening. Indeed, upon hearing of the Speaker's departure, Hogg jumped on the opportunity to move Ryan to bring a vote.
Hogg’s claim that 90 percent of American support universal background checks checks out, according to Politifact. Indeed, even 74 percent of NRA members support “requiring background checks for all gun sales,” as Politifact noted.
Leaping on the hashtag Hogg initiated, “#MyMessageToSpeakerRyan,” many activists responded in kind, including Anderson Pleasants, a fellow high school student and activist from Buffalo, New York.
“Hello, my name is Anderson Pleasants, I’m an 18 year old high school student with a message for Speaker Paul Ryan,” Pleasants spoke and signed. “I may not have an actual voice that’s easy to understand, but I do have a voice… I have a voice just like the 83% of Americans who support mandatory waiting periods after gun purchases… I have a voice just like the 67% of Americans who support a nationwide ban on assault weapons,” Pleasants implored Ryan.
Others chimed in too.
Regarding his impending departure, Ryan tweeted earlier that he is a “Wisconsin guy” who came to Washington to “make a difference.” If Ryan brought a background check bill to vote, it would certainly accomplish that goal.
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