HARTFORD — Back from a history-making attempt to force Republican majorities to act on gun safety, Connecticut’s congressional delegation said Friday they believe change is finally on the way.

After last week’s near-record filibuster by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy and an unprecedented Democratic sit-in on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this week, the lawmakers said between the Orlando massacre and the upcoming election, Republicans who control both chambers are starting to listen to their constituents around the nation, who overwhelmingly favor tighter gun control.

“At some level, it is patently ridiculous that we have had to launch a filibuster and a sit-in to move the United States Congress forward on stopping criminals and terrorists from getting guns,” Murphy told reporters in the Legislative Office Building.

But Republicans and Democrats in both chambers are now talking more seriously about keeping those on no-fly lists from obtaining firearms, and about possibly expanding background checks. Connecticut’s Congressional delegation consists of all Democrats.

“I believe that five years from now, we are going to look back on the last 10 days as a watershed moment in the history of the anti-gun-violence movement,” Murphy said.

“More Republicans in the Senate broke with the gun lobby this week than in the modern history of the anti-gun-violence movement,” he said.

Murphy, who stood for 15 hours last week, holding up Senate business, said while the 60 votes needed to change the 100-member Senate aren’t yet there, Congress is on the cusp of change.

“The complicity of Congress must end,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, stressing that international terrorism is playing a big role in lessening the grip that lobbyists for the National Rifle Association have on Washington. “Over the last two weeks, America has reached a boiling point of frustration.”

Backed by three dozen sign-carrying gun-safety advocates who cheered their arrival in a Capitol-complex meeting room, Blumenthal and Murphy were joined by U.S. Reps Elizabeth Esty, Rosa DeLauro and John Larson during an hourlong news conference.

Larson, who represents the 1st Congressional District, said it’s “quite possible” Democrats will resume their sit-in when the House reconvenes July 5. He and DeLauro, the senior members of the state’s congressional delegation and 3rd District representative, said future strategy is being discussed.

Larson was credited for the sit-in idea, along with with Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a 1960s-era civil rights veteran.

“I wouldn’t call it a sit-in,” Larson said. “I like to refer to this as a teach-in.”

“It’s about the job you have given us,” DeLauro said. “We are willing to break the rules and do what needs to be done.”

Esty, in her second term representing the state’s 5th District — including Newtown, the site of the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School — recalled that while House Speaker Paul Ryan ordered TV cameras turned off, the air conditioning became more pronounced.

But through mobile phone video distributed via social media, Democrats got to share personal stories around the nation.

“For us, this is personal,” Esty said. “And it’s personal to millions of American families, and that’s what we saw this week. You could feel the spirit of the American people, who are demanding and know that we can do better.”