In a heated exchange on the House floor today, Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York confronted his Republican colleague Thomas Massie about gun control legislation.
According to eyewitnesses, Rep. Bowman approached Rep. Massie and shouted, "They're all cowards!" in reference to Republicans who oppose gun reform measures.
Rep. Massie reportedly tried to push back against the accusation by pointing out that he himself is a supporter of the Second Amendment and believes in responsible gun ownership.
But Rep. Bowman was undeterred, stating that it was time for lawmakers to take action on guns and stop catering to special interests like the National Rifle Association (NRA).
"Enough is enough," said Rep. Bowman in a statement following the confrontation. "We cannot continue to allow senseless acts of violence to occur while we sit idly by and do nothing."
The incident comes just days after another mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado left 10 people dead, prompting renewed calls for stricter gun laws from Democrats.
However, Republicans have long been opposed to such measures, arguing that they infringe upon Americans' constitutional rights.
Despite their disagreement on this issue, both representatives stressed the importance of civility and respectful dialogue in politics.
"We may not always agree on everything," said Rep. Massie after the incident with Rep. Bowman. "But we can still treat each other with respect and work towards finding common ground."