Everytown Statement on Metal Detectors Being Installed Outside Entrance to House Floor

News Follows Reports that At Least One Member of Congress Carried a Firearm in the U.S. Capitol During Last Week’s Attempted Coup by Deadly, Armed Pro-Trump Mob — Potentially Violating Prohibition of Firearms on House Floor

WASHINGTON –– Today, Everytown and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statements in response to a report that metal detectors have been installed outside the entrance to the U.S. House chamber. Members of the House of Representatives will now be required to undergo security screening and pass through the magnetometers before being allowed onto the House floor. The general public is already prohibited from carrying guns in the Capitol or on Capitol Grounds  –– and even members are prohibited from carrying guns on the floor. 

This follows a report that one member of Congress, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), claimed to be carrying a firearm in the Capitol when the pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in an attempted coup last week. Another member of Congress, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), has said she will carry her firearm in Washington D.C., in defiance of local laws.

“It is shocking that Capitol security now feels the need to take such extreme measures to enforce the prohibition against guns on the House floor,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This once unthinkable step is designed to protect lawmakers and address the growing specter of armed intimidation in politics. Given the persistent threats and real violence we have seen over the past week, as well as the disturbing comments we have seen from some members of Congress, we must keep guns as far as possible from the seat of government.”

“Metal detectors at the entrance to the House floor are a tragic necessity when we have lawmakers who ‘joke’ about challenging their colleagues to duels and stand with seditionists” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “But unfortunately, they will do nothing to keep out the greatest threat to our country: President Trump and Republican allies that incited an attempted coup. No metal detector can defend our democracy when these so-called leaders are themselves leading attacks against it.”