The House floor erupted in shouting on Wednesday after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) held a moment of silence to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University.
Johnson told reporters before heading to the chamber that he would pause proceedings in Kirk’s memory. After the moment of silence, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) requested that a prayer be read, prompting Democrats to yell “no.”
The exchange escalated when Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) shouted at Democrats, “You f***ing own this.” Democrats fired back by pointing to a Colorado school shooting earlier in the day.
“Pass some gun laws,” one Democrat shouted.
Speaking to reporters later, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) echoed Luna’s frustration. “Democrats own what happened today,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) introduced a resolution that initially addressed the shooting before Kirk’s death was confirmed. He later changed the language to condemn the “horrific political assassination,” praising Kirk as a “faith-based conservative spokesman and thought leader.” Several Republicans signed on to the resolution.
