House holds moment of silence for Planned Parenthood shooting victims

The House briefly paused its floor proceedings Tuesday afternoon to conduct a moment of silence in honor of the victims of last week’s shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. Colo.

Three people, including a police officer, were killed and nine injured during the shooting on Friday at the Planned Parenthood facility. 

“These three innocent individuals and their families’ friends and loved ones were the victims of senseless violence,” Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) said from the center of the House floor, with the rest of the Colorado delegation standing around him.

{mosads}”We are a resilient and supportive community that will come together and will pull through this tragedy,” he said.

But the floor wasn’t entirely silent as Lamborn spoke. Multiple lawmakers of both parties could be seen continuing conversations with each other during Lamborn’s remarks. Another member was observed yawning widely.

By contrast to other moments of silence for recent shootings, lawmakers typically stay quiet during speeches from their colleagues eulogizing the victims.

The last moment of silence in the House for victims of a shooting rampage in October at an Oregon community college was marked by an outcry once it concluded. “Now let’s do something!” Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) shouted.

Upon the conclusion of Lamborn’s speech, everyone in the House chamber stood quietly for approximately 15 seconds. Then it was back to voting.