2) Democrats Face No Risk For Their Stance

The civil rights movement quite consciously broke laws. Participants knew they were breaking laws and took that lawbreaking very seriously. They knew they would face jail and other persecution for their acts. But they believed that laws mandating segregation were unjust. They were beaten, arrested, and assaulted. It took tremendous courage to take on unjust laws.

The worst construction of the stunt pulled by House Democrats is that it was a fundraising and public relations effort, proven by the fact that Democratic colleagues in the Senate voted against a bill that would have expanded background checks for gun purchases while also preserving constitutional guarantees of due process rights.

The best construction is that Democrats really felt they were bringing much-needed attention to the fight against gun violence. Even so, what law did they break? What persecution did they face for occupying their own place of employment? They raised money, were served pop-tarts, macademia nuts and pizza, and given pillows to rest their heads on during their brutal day-long sit-in. They received media acclaim and support. They suffered not at all, except for aging hips and knees creaking as they got up from their criss-cross applesauce positions on the carpeted floor.