California Congressman Ted Lieu says he walked out of a moment of silence in the House of Representatives for the victims of the Sutherland Springs shooting because he had “been to too many moments of silence.”

Lieu, a Democrat, said he was “heartbroken,” but said he would “not be silent” and that it was time to enact gun-safety legislation.

“My colleagues right now are doing a moment of silence in the House of Representatives’ chamber,” 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 silence. In just my short period in congress, three of the worst mass shootings in US history have occurred.”

He urged his colleagues to pass “reasonable gun-safety legislation, including a universal background check law, supported by 80 per cent of Americans; a ban on assault rifles; and a ban on box stocks.” Credit: Ted Lieu via Storyful