SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
U.S. Capitol Police install a metal detector outside the House of Representatives Chamber, on the very spot where less than a week earlier violent insurrectionists attempted to smash their way through and halt the certification of the Electoral College votes on January 12, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
'They Should All Resign': Here Are the GOP Lawmakers Dodging Metal Detectors Installed After Capitol Assault
"What you will learn is they are the same ones who refuse to protect American children from gun violence and Americans from Covid."
Jan 12, 2021
Flippantly disregarding a basic safety measure put in place in the wake of last week's deadly invasion the U.S. Capitol, numerous Republican lawmakers on Wednesday dodged metal detectors as they entered the House chamber to take part in debate over an article of impeachment charging President Donald Trump with inciting the mob attack.
In a series of tweets Wednesday, HuffPost reporter Matt Fuller named the GOP members he watched evade the newly installed magnetometers or walk through the detectors, set them off, and completely disregard their alarms and proceed into the House chamber without consequence.
"This system has been rendered meaningless," Fuller lamented as one House Republican after another sidestepped the metal detectors, the establishment of which one GOP member called an "atrocity."
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) noted Wednesday that "until yesterday, the rule prohibiting guns in the House chamber was not enforced at all. It was an honor system and it was being flouted."
"Now it's a modified honor system, where they're asking politely for dishonorable members to go through mags," Huffman said. "That too is being flouted."
Below are Fuller's tweets spotlighting the Republican lawmakers who refused to comply with the new precaution:
\u201cRep. Bob Gibbs walks right around the metal detector and enters the House floor.\n\nWe\u2019re back to this.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610552951
\u201cAnd Chip Roy sidesteps the magnetometer.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553139
\u201cRep. Bob Latta sets off the metal detector and walks right past the cops.\n\nThis system has been rendered meaningless.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553201
\u201cRep. Garret Graves sidesteps the metal detectors.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553240
\u201cRep. Markwayne Mullin sidesteps the metal detectors.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553588
\u201cRep. Jeff Duncan sidesteps the magnetometer.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553869
\u201cRep. Louie Gohmert sidesteps the magnetometer, shaking his head and waving off the police.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553898
\u201cRep. Virginia Foxx sets off the metal detectors and keeps walking to the floor.\n\n\u201cGood morning, guys,\u201d Foxx says as she passes through.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554406
\u201cRep. Paul Gosar waits in line for the metal detector. \n\nHe walks through, sets off the machine, and then just keeps going.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554484
\u201cRep. Alex Mooney walks through the metal detectors while talking on the phone. \n\nHe extends his hand as if to say, \u2018I\u2019m on the phone,\u2019 and just walks onto the floor.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554680
\u201cRep. Bill Huizenga walks through the metal detector. He sets it off and keeps walking.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554747
\u201cRep. Russ Fulcher sees reporters staking out the door where he pushed past a cop to get through to the House floor.\n\nHe walks to a different door and does it again, thinking he\u2019s out of sight. (But I followed him.)\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553124
Fred Guttenberg, the father of a 14-year-old girl who was killed in the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, tweeted in response to the Republicans' flouting of House safety measures that "what you will learn is they are the same ones who refuse to protect American children from gun violence and Americans from Covid."
"They should all resign," said Guttenberg.
\u201cIf congress-members think going through metal detectors is a lot just wait to hear what school kids have to go through.\u201d— David Hogg \u262e\ufe0f (@David Hogg \u262e\ufe0f) 1610503320
First utilized on Tuesday and described by the acting House sergeant-at-arms as required "security screening," the metal detectors set off an immediate furor among Republican lawmakers who claim the devices pose a dire threat to their constitutional rights.
"It is a shame that [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi is trying to disarm members of Congress in the very place that needed more protection on January 6," Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said in a statement after she reportedly "got into an altercation with police officers and initially refused to show police what was in her bag Tuesday night."
According toCNN, Republican Reps. Steve Womack (Ark.) and Markwayne Mullin (Okla.) "erupted at Capitol Police" Tuesday over the metal detectors.
"I was physically restrained!" Womack shouted as he was forced to walk through the magnetometers. Mullin, for his part, declared that "it's my constitutional right" and said "they cannot stop me."
In response to his colleagues' conduct, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) asked on Twitter, "Do these people not understand that literally everyone else has to go through metal detectors to get in here?"
"Average people do not get to bring guns into the United States Capitol in normal times," Beyer noted. "Get over yourselves."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Flippantly disregarding a basic safety measure put in place in the wake of last week's deadly invasion the U.S. Capitol, numerous Republican lawmakers on Wednesday dodged metal detectors as they entered the House chamber to take part in debate over an article of impeachment charging President Donald Trump with inciting the mob attack.
In a series of tweets Wednesday, HuffPost reporter Matt Fuller named the GOP members he watched evade the newly installed magnetometers or walk through the detectors, set them off, and completely disregard their alarms and proceed into the House chamber without consequence.
"This system has been rendered meaningless," Fuller lamented as one House Republican after another sidestepped the metal detectors, the establishment of which one GOP member called an "atrocity."
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) noted Wednesday that "until yesterday, the rule prohibiting guns in the House chamber was not enforced at all. It was an honor system and it was being flouted."
"Now it's a modified honor system, where they're asking politely for dishonorable members to go through mags," Huffman said. "That too is being flouted."
Below are Fuller's tweets spotlighting the Republican lawmakers who refused to comply with the new precaution:
\u201cRep. Bob Gibbs walks right around the metal detector and enters the House floor.\n\nWe\u2019re back to this.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610552951
\u201cAnd Chip Roy sidesteps the magnetometer.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553139
\u201cRep. Bob Latta sets off the metal detector and walks right past the cops.\n\nThis system has been rendered meaningless.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553201
\u201cRep. Garret Graves sidesteps the metal detectors.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553240
\u201cRep. Markwayne Mullin sidesteps the metal detectors.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553588
\u201cRep. Jeff Duncan sidesteps the magnetometer.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553869
\u201cRep. Louie Gohmert sidesteps the magnetometer, shaking his head and waving off the police.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553898
\u201cRep. Virginia Foxx sets off the metal detectors and keeps walking to the floor.\n\n\u201cGood morning, guys,\u201d Foxx says as she passes through.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554406
\u201cRep. Paul Gosar waits in line for the metal detector. \n\nHe walks through, sets off the machine, and then just keeps going.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554484
\u201cRep. Alex Mooney walks through the metal detectors while talking on the phone. \n\nHe extends his hand as if to say, \u2018I\u2019m on the phone,\u2019 and just walks onto the floor.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554680
\u201cRep. Bill Huizenga walks through the metal detector. He sets it off and keeps walking.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554747
\u201cRep. Russ Fulcher sees reporters staking out the door where he pushed past a cop to get through to the House floor.\n\nHe walks to a different door and does it again, thinking he\u2019s out of sight. (But I followed him.)\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553124
Fred Guttenberg, the father of a 14-year-old girl who was killed in the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, tweeted in response to the Republicans' flouting of House safety measures that "what you will learn is they are the same ones who refuse to protect American children from gun violence and Americans from Covid."
"They should all resign," said Guttenberg.
\u201cIf congress-members think going through metal detectors is a lot just wait to hear what school kids have to go through.\u201d— David Hogg \u262e\ufe0f (@David Hogg \u262e\ufe0f) 1610503320
First utilized on Tuesday and described by the acting House sergeant-at-arms as required "security screening," the metal detectors set off an immediate furor among Republican lawmakers who claim the devices pose a dire threat to their constitutional rights.
"It is a shame that [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi is trying to disarm members of Congress in the very place that needed more protection on January 6," Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said in a statement after she reportedly "got into an altercation with police officers and initially refused to show police what was in her bag Tuesday night."
According toCNN, Republican Reps. Steve Womack (Ark.) and Markwayne Mullin (Okla.) "erupted at Capitol Police" Tuesday over the metal detectors.
"I was physically restrained!" Womack shouted as he was forced to walk through the magnetometers. Mullin, for his part, declared that "it's my constitutional right" and said "they cannot stop me."
In response to his colleagues' conduct, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) asked on Twitter, "Do these people not understand that literally everyone else has to go through metal detectors to get in here?"
"Average people do not get to bring guns into the United States Capitol in normal times," Beyer noted. "Get over yourselves."
Flippantly disregarding a basic safety measure put in place in the wake of last week's deadly invasion the U.S. Capitol, numerous Republican lawmakers on Wednesday dodged metal detectors as they entered the House chamber to take part in debate over an article of impeachment charging President Donald Trump with inciting the mob attack.
In a series of tweets Wednesday, HuffPost reporter Matt Fuller named the GOP members he watched evade the newly installed magnetometers or walk through the detectors, set them off, and completely disregard their alarms and proceed into the House chamber without consequence.
"This system has been rendered meaningless," Fuller lamented as one House Republican after another sidestepped the metal detectors, the establishment of which one GOP member called an "atrocity."
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) noted Wednesday that "until yesterday, the rule prohibiting guns in the House chamber was not enforced at all. It was an honor system and it was being flouted."
"Now it's a modified honor system, where they're asking politely for dishonorable members to go through mags," Huffman said. "That too is being flouted."
Below are Fuller's tweets spotlighting the Republican lawmakers who refused to comply with the new precaution:
\u201cRep. Bob Gibbs walks right around the metal detector and enters the House floor.\n\nWe\u2019re back to this.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610552951
\u201cAnd Chip Roy sidesteps the magnetometer.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553139
\u201cRep. Bob Latta sets off the metal detector and walks right past the cops.\n\nThis system has been rendered meaningless.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553201
\u201cRep. Garret Graves sidesteps the metal detectors.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553240
\u201cRep. Markwayne Mullin sidesteps the metal detectors.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553588
\u201cRep. Jeff Duncan sidesteps the magnetometer.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553869
\u201cRep. Louie Gohmert sidesteps the magnetometer, shaking his head and waving off the police.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553898
\u201cRep. Virginia Foxx sets off the metal detectors and keeps walking to the floor.\n\n\u201cGood morning, guys,\u201d Foxx says as she passes through.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554406
\u201cRep. Paul Gosar waits in line for the metal detector. \n\nHe walks through, sets off the machine, and then just keeps going.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554484
\u201cRep. Alex Mooney walks through the metal detectors while talking on the phone. \n\nHe extends his hand as if to say, \u2018I\u2019m on the phone,\u2019 and just walks onto the floor.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554680
\u201cRep. Bill Huizenga walks through the metal detector. He sets it off and keeps walking.\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610554747
\u201cRep. Russ Fulcher sees reporters staking out the door where he pushed past a cop to get through to the House floor.\n\nHe walks to a different door and does it again, thinking he\u2019s out of sight. (But I followed him.)\u201d— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1610553124
Fred Guttenberg, the father of a 14-year-old girl who was killed in the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, tweeted in response to the Republicans' flouting of House safety measures that "what you will learn is they are the same ones who refuse to protect American children from gun violence and Americans from Covid."
"They should all resign," said Guttenberg.
\u201cIf congress-members think going through metal detectors is a lot just wait to hear what school kids have to go through.\u201d— David Hogg \u262e\ufe0f (@David Hogg \u262e\ufe0f) 1610503320
First utilized on Tuesday and described by the acting House sergeant-at-arms as required "security screening," the metal detectors set off an immediate furor among Republican lawmakers who claim the devices pose a dire threat to their constitutional rights.
"It is a shame that [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi is trying to disarm members of Congress in the very place that needed more protection on January 6," Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said in a statement after she reportedly "got into an altercation with police officers and initially refused to show police what was in her bag Tuesday night."
According toCNN, Republican Reps. Steve Womack (Ark.) and Markwayne Mullin (Okla.) "erupted at Capitol Police" Tuesday over the metal detectors.
"I was physically restrained!" Womack shouted as he was forced to walk through the magnetometers. Mullin, for his part, declared that "it's my constitutional right" and said "they cannot stop me."
In response to his colleagues' conduct, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) asked on Twitter, "Do these people not understand that literally everyone else has to go through metal detectors to get in here?"
"Average people do not get to bring guns into the United States Capitol in normal times," Beyer noted. "Get over yourselves."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.