On hostages, captors, Austin Tice and the Second Amendment

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Today, we think about hostages and captors. If President Barack Obama wants to secure his legacy, he certainly doesn’t want to leave any missing Americans behind in the Middle East. That includes journalist Austin Tice. In Congress, the gun debate goes on, to no avail. Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer has a suggestion for that.

Take a seat

Rep. John Lewis knows a thing or two about sit-ins. So it’s not surprising that the aging civil rights leader was the ringleader of Wednesday’s hours-long sit-in on the carpeted floor of U.S. House.

House Democrats, like those in the Senate last week, want Republicans to hold a vote on gun control legislation before adjourning on Friday.

“No bill, no break,” they chanted. “How many more mothers, how many more fathers need to shed tears of grief before we do something?” Lewis wanted to know.

Speaker Paul Ryan, unmoved, called the protest a “publicity stunt.” He also called for a recess, shutting off C-SPAN’s TV broadcast. Talk about a cheap shot. Thank goodness for smartphones, Periscope and Twitter. – Erika D. Smith @Erika_D_Smith

Take number: 27

Many politicos focus on whether Democrats can win two-thirds majorities in the Legislature. Democratic consultant Minnie Santillan, who in her day job works for Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, thinks Democratic Latinos could win 27 Assembly seats, a feat not achieved since 2008. They’re at 22 now. Based on primary results, Latinos are sure to hold 24 Assembly seats.

Three questions: Can Democrat Sharon Quirk-Silva unseat Republican Assemblywoman Young Kim in Orange County? Can Democrat Sabrina Cervantes unseat Republican Assemblyman Eric Lindner in Riverside County? Can Democrat Abigail Medina unseat Republican Assemblyman Marc Steinorth in San Bernardino County?

Here’s a fourth question: Is Donald Trump doing Republicans any favors by talking about building walls and attacking an Indiana-born judge whose parents came from Mexico?

“No,” Santillan answered.

Our take

Editorial: President Barack Obama must do more to find and #FreeAustinTice.

Editorial: Gov. Jerry Brown’s goal of having 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on California roads hits a roadblock.

Scott Hauge and Susan Frank: Don’t believe naysayers: Carbon market is working.

Kathleen Tiegs and Brent Hastey: New water rules make good sense.

Mike Honda and Rene Garcia: Census won’t be fair and accurate without funding.

Their take

Debra J. Saunders of The San Francisco Chronicle: The Obama administration would rather target supporters of gun rights than the allure of the Islamic State.

The Orange County Register: Memo to Loretta Lynch: Issuing redacted transcripts is hardly getting out as much information as possible.

The Kansas City Star: Here’s what the shameful GOP wants you to know about Democrats’ sit-in over gun control.

The Miami Herald: Sen. Marco Rubio plays fast and loose with his pledge not to run for re-election to the Senate.

Syndicates’ take

E.J. Dionne Jr.: Donald Trump sells out faith.

Dana Milbank: Donald Trump’s Potemkin village.

Thomas L. Friedman: As in the Renaissance, key anchors in people’s lives – like the workplace and community – are being fundamentally dislocated.

And finally,

Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, having addressed an Every Town for Gun Safety rally on the west steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, stopped to say: “The Second Amendment is not a Bible verse. It did not come down from God. It came from man. ... You can actually make an amendment to the Constitution so our streets can be safer.”

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 5:31 AM with the headline "On hostages, captors, Austin Tice and the Second Amendment."