ST. PAUL, Minn. – Democratic state representatives in Minnesota initiated a sit-in Thursday night in the state House chamber, protesting the Republican speaker’s decision not to bring a gun violence prevention bill to a vote, a move critics call a disruption of the legislative process. The sit-in, which began around 9 p.m. local time, follows a contentious debate over gun control measures and raises concerns about political decorum.

The action was led by Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura, a Democrat from Minneapolis, who announced the plan Wednesday. Sencer-Mura issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican candidate for governor, to schedule a vote on the bill. This demand was made despite the House having a 67-67 vote tie, requiring careful consideration and negotiation.

The Minnesota Senate, controlled by Democrats, previously passed the gun violence prevention omnibus earlier this month. However, the House, with its even split and Republican speaker, has not taken up the bill. This stalemate reflects deep divisions on gun control policy.

The push for the legislation follows a tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church last August, where two students were killed and others were injured. These events, along with other shootings last summer, have fueled the debate over gun control in the state. Parents of Harper Moyski, a 10-year-old killed in the Annunciation shooting, and other Annunciation students have advocated for changes to state gun laws.

The bill includes provisions that conservatives argue infringe on Second Amendment rights, such as bans on semi-automatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. It also includes regulations on safe firearm storage, a ban on ghost guns, modifications to risk protection orders, and provisions for schools to implement threat reporting systems.

Sencer-Mura's deadline for scheduling a vote was 5 p.m. Thursday. A procedural motion to bring the bill to a vote failed shortly before 9 p.m., leading to the sit-in. Sencer-Mura stated that participating lawmakers intended to remain in the chamber overnight. The local Fox affiliate reported approximately 20 Democratic lawmakers were expected to participate.

“What is speaker Lisa Demuth so afraid of? The very fact that she’s breaking her promise to Annunciation families to not block the bill from coming to the floor, tells me that she’s afraid it will pass,” Sencer-Mura said in a statement, accusing the Speaker of avoiding a difficult vote.