Dem: It’s deja vu on gun control all over again

Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) on Monday called on Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to schedule votes on the issue of gun control before lawmakers go on vacation at the end of the week.

“Not only is this deja vu, it is dangerous deja vu,” said Israel, a former chairman of the House Democrats’ campaign arm.

“I thought after Sandy Hook, when 20 children were massacred, Congress would do something. I thought after San Bernardino, Congress would do something, but this, this is a moment of truth,” Israel told CNN.

{mosads}The Senate is poised to vote on four bills later on Monday, all of which are expected to be defeated. No votes are scheduled in the House.

The latest battle in Washington over gun control is taking place a little more than a week after 49 people were killed at an Orlando nightclub. Democrats have called for approving tougher gun control measures in the wake of the murders, while Republicans have emphasized the killer’s embrace of Islamic terror groups in 911 calls during the attack.

“We have at least four votes in the Senate doing something,” Israel said. “On the other hand, in the House of Representatives, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to come into session on Tuesday night, and then we’re going to go on vacation on Friday, and that is unconscionable.”

Israel said there will be a conference call with Democratic members of the House to discuss what tools can be used to stop Ryan from allowing Congress to go on vacation without a vote on the issue. He said the Speaker should schedule a vote on the “no fly, no buy” bill this week, which refers to legislation preventing people on the terrorist watchlist from being able to buy a gun.

“Paul Ryan has an obligation to at least put that up for a vote. And I believe that if he did, it would pass,” he said.