A Democratic member of the House refused to participate in a moment of silence for the victims of Sunday's church shooting in Texas because he wants to see action in the gun debate.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., left the House chamber and recorded a Facebook video to record his thoughts.
"My colleagues right now are doing a moment of silence in the House of Representatives chambers," Lieu said. "I respect their right to do that and I myself have participated in many of them.
"But I can't do this again. I've been to too many moments of silences. In just my short period in Congress, three of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history have occurred. I will not be silent."
Sunday's shooting left 26 people dead, including several children. The shooter was shot and then pursued by armed citizens before he killed himself.
Lieu said what America needs is gun control legislation.
"I urge us to pass reasonable gun safety legislation, including a universal background check law, supported by 80 percent of Americans, a ban on assault rifles, and a ban on bump stocks," he said.
"We need to do that, we cannot be silent. We need to act now."
Bump stocks were used in the Las Vegas massacre last month that left 58 people dead. They make a semiautomatic rifle fire at a faster rate that is similar to an automatic weapon.
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