Paul Ryan declines to talk about gun control, draws criticism from challenger Randy Bryce

House Speaker Paul Ryan's refusal to discuss gun control with a teacher who showed up at a political fundraiser is drawing criticism from one of his challengers.

Ryan was attending a Miami-area fundraiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee on Friday night when he was confronted by a teacher who crashed the private event, according to Miami Herald.com.

Maria Thorne told Ryan that he was "here celebrating the death of 17 children," the Herald reported.

Ryan told Thorne he didn’t want to discuss the issue, and Thorne was escorted out of the event by security personnel.

On Saturday, Randy Bryce issued a statement about the encounter.

Bryce, a Caledonia ironworker, is seeking the Democratic nomination to run against Ryan, of Janesville, in November's general election. Janesville School Board Cathy Myers also is running in the Democratic primary election.

"We need a speaker who will listen to everyone, not just the NRA and other special interests who cut him checks," Bryce's statement said.

"As Speaker Ryan has expressed in recent days, the shooting in Parkland is horrific and senseless," said Jeremy Adler, Ryan's campaign spokesman. "He is praying for the entire community during this period of unimaginable pain and sorrow." 

The fundraiser was at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Key Biscayne. The hotel is about 60 miles south of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 17 students and faculty were killed Wednesday by a 19-year-old former student.