Republican Challenger Blasts Frank Pallone for Taking Part in Gun Control Sit-In

In response to Democrat Rep. Frank Pallone taking part in the 24-hour+ sit-in on the House floor this week, a Republican who is trying to unseat him called his sit-in participation "disgraceful."

“After bragging about being in Congress for 28 years, Pallone said that the theatrics he and his colleagues conducted before an empty chamber was his proudest moment of those 28 years," said Brent Sonnek-Schmelz, who is pictured above, according to MoreMonmouthMusings.net. “We need representatives in Congress who can put aside their hyper-partisanship and get to work on the serious problems our nation is facing. Any politician, especially Frank Pallone, should be ashamed, not proud, of politicizing the tragedy in Orlando.”

Patch reported how Congressman Pallone sat for hours Wednesday night and Thursday morning in the House chamber, trying to force the House to vote on two gun control bills.

Sonnek-Schmelz is running to unseat Pallone as New Jersey's 6th District Congressman. Pallone has long represented the district, which includes a long swath of Middlesex and Monmouth counties.

The 6th District stretches from Woodbridge, through Edison to New Brunswick, down into parts of Old Bridge, through Aberdeen, Hazlet, Holmdel, Middletown, Atlantic Highlands and Highlands. It also includes Marlboro Township and Long Branch. Sonnek-Schmelz, 40, lives in Atlantic Highlands. He will hold a fundraiser in Metuchen this Sunday, June 26.