Red shirts and green pins filled the Capitol rotunda, while Republican lawmakers convened the press Monday, all pushing separate bills they wanted to see passed on the last day of session before summer.

But by Monday afternoon, after some recognition of guests and a heavily debated bill on nursing home lawsuits, all were left disappointed that their numbers hadn’t come up.

In round two of the House Judiciary Committee’s gun votes this week, two contentious, party-splitting decisions were each decided by a single vote.

A bump stock ban passed out of committee, but universal background checks failed to garner a majority.

Lawmakers approved five bills to tamp down on gun violence Tuesday morning, with votes on four more bills scheduled for Wednesday.

The House Judiciary Committee held its long anticipated vote on gun and mental health laws, prompted after half a year of school shootings, advocate rallies, and public hearings agitating for action.

Lines of people reached down the capitol steps to get in the Rotunda this morning where legislators, gun owners, and members of the law enforcement community gathered to rally to protect their right to keep and bear arms.

The rally has been held annually since 2006. 

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) introduced an array of speakers who highlighted the importance of protecting Second Amendment rights.

Governor Tom Wolf reiterated his support for bills increasing gun control in the state Monday as elected officials weigh how best to reduce gun deaths.

A major target of Wolf’s encouragement was SB 501, the first major gun policy bill since the Parkland School shooting — which has brought the gun debate to blistering new levels — to pass a chamber.