Ruben Gallego in January 6 Capitol Riot

On Principles & Values: Wore gas mask in Congress when tear gas deployed on Jan. 6

These hoods didn't resemble the gas masks you see police wearing during a riot; instead, they were a large polyethylene bag that you pulled over your head, with a small motor attached to circulate and filter the air.

I have a bit of claustrophobia, and the idea of pulling a bag over my head already had my pulse quickening. I resolved to wait until the last moment before I had to don the thing, since I wasn't smelling tear gas, not yet. "Breathe slowly when you put it on," Ruben intoned again, "or you will pass out. That is how people can die from wearing these." Okay, that wasn't so helpful.