WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers are responding to the deadly Florida school shooting with calls for expanded background checks. They also want to create a committee to examine gun violence.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says, "We hope that we will have more than a moment of silence."

Yet attempts to pass stricter gun laws have gone nowhere in recent years.

Rep. Mike Thompson of California has been leading Democratic efforts on gun control. Thompson is a gun owner who says the U.S. is in the midst of a crisis. He adds "You can't turn around without there being a mass shooting."

Thompson's also criticizing Republicans for how Congress has responded to the shootings, saying they should be embarrassed that GOP leaders "wouldn't address this issue."