News Articles
April 16, 2013
WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House followed the Senate's lead Tuesday and unveiled a bill to strengthen background checks for gun purchases.
The measure, introduced Monday night by Reps. Pete King (R-N.Y.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), also featured bipartisan support from Reps. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Pat Meehan (R-Pa.), Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) and Peter Defazio (D-Ore.).
The King-Thompson legislation is identical to the bipartisan agreement on background checks struck by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
The measure, introduced Monday night by Reps. Pete King (R-N.Y.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), also featured bipartisan support from Reps. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Pat Meehan (R-Pa.), Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) and Peter Defazio (D-Ore.).
The King-Thompson legislation is identical to the bipartisan agreement on background checks struck by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
April 15, 2013
Gun control is complicated. Legislation is byzantine. A policy wonk breaks it down.
The Senate has begun debating landmark gun control legislation. The House will soon have its own proposals. Background checks are in the spotlight. Democrats and their allies want to expand them by eliminating exceptions like the “gun show loophole,” which applies to private sales between individuals, and augmenting the national database of criminal and mentally unstable persons. But the whole story is more complicated.
The Senate has begun debating landmark gun control legislation. The House will soon have its own proposals. Background checks are in the spotlight. Democrats and their allies want to expand them by eliminating exceptions like the “gun show loophole,” which applies to private sales between individuals, and augmenting the national database of criminal and mentally unstable persons. But the whole story is more complicated.
April 11, 2013
A vast majority of veterans believe that it's important for Congress and President Obama to address gun violence, and that responsible gun owners' Second Amendment rights can be protected while making it harder for criminals and other dangerous people to own guns, according to a new poll.
A tremendous 91 percent of veterans support requiring a background check of everyone who wants to buy a firearm, the poll found, and 99 percent support increasing criminal penalties for people convicted of trafficking guns to criminals.
A tremendous 91 percent of veterans support requiring a background check of everyone who wants to buy a firearm, the poll found, and 99 percent support increasing criminal penalties for people convicted of trafficking guns to criminals.
April 11, 2013
With the Senate set to vote on a comprehensive gun-violence prevention bill, a new poll released Friday and commissioned by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and VoteVets.org leaves no doubt that veterans believe the president and Congress need to do something to address gun violence.
The nationwide survey of 804 registered voters who are veterans of the military illustrates that veterans believe it is possible to strengthen the country's gun laws while continuing to protect the right to bear arms.
The nationwide survey of 804 registered voters who are veterans of the military illustrates that veterans believe it is possible to strengthen the country's gun laws while continuing to protect the right to bear arms.
April 11, 2013
With the Senate set to vote on a comprehensive gun-violence prevention bill, a new poll released Friday and commissioned by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and VoteVets.org leaves no doubt that veterans believe the president and Congress need to do something to address gun violence.
The nationwide survey of 804 registered voters who are veterans of the military illustrates that veterans believe it is possible to strengthen the country's gun laws while continuing to protect the right to bear arms.
The nationwide survey of 804 registered voters who are veterans of the military illustrates that veterans believe it is possible to strengthen the country's gun laws while continuing to protect the right to bear arms.
April 11, 2013
A bipartisan compromise act addressing background checks for firearms sales, the collaboration of two junior U.S. senators, earned the praise of U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, Benicia's representative in the House.
The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., would require states and the federal government to send all necessary records on criminals and the violently mentally ill to the national Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., would require states and the federal government to send all necessary records on criminals and the violently mentally ill to the national Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
April 11, 2013
A leading House Democrat is accusing opponents of expanded screenings for firearms sales of hypocrisy in the fight against gun violence.
Rep. Mike Thompson (Calif.), who heads the House Democratic task force on gun violence, said those challenging an extension of mandatory background checks have no right to claim an interest in keeping guns out of the hands of violent people.
Rep. Mike Thompson (Calif.), who heads the House Democratic task force on gun violence, said those challenging an extension of mandatory background checks have no right to claim an interest in keeping guns out of the hands of violent people.
April 10, 2013
Reps. Pete King (R-N.Y.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) will introduce legislation requiring background checks on gun purchases.
The King-Thompson bill will be similar to a Senate gun proposal on background checks, according to CNN.
"Moving forward we will continue working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle here in the House, and plan on introducing similar legislation to require comprehensive and enforceable background checks on all gun sales with reasonable family and friends exceptions," the congressmen said in a statement.
The King-Thompson bill will be similar to a Senate gun proposal on background checks, according to CNN.
"Moving forward we will continue working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle here in the House, and plan on introducing similar legislation to require comprehensive and enforceable background checks on all gun sales with reasonable family and friends exceptions," the congressmen said in a statement.
April 2, 2013
As a businessman in Winters, I am fully behind the effort to designate federal lands in the 100-mile stretch from Lake Berryessa to 7,000-foot Snow Mountain as California's third national conservation area.
Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Mike Thompson introduced the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act (S.483/H.R. 1025) on March 7, joined by co-sponsors John Garamendi, Jared Huffman, Anna Eschoo and Ami Bera.
Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Mike Thompson introduced the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act (S.483/H.R. 1025) on March 7, joined by co-sponsors John Garamendi, Jared Huffman, Anna Eschoo and Ami Bera.
April 2, 2013
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) criticized the National Rifle Association-backed proposals for school safety measures that were unveiled Tuesday, stating in a news release that "arming school personnel and training them for shootouts" is not the answer to the gun violence problem in America's schools.
The NRA-supported task force announced a set of proposed school safety measures that counter the rash of gun violence control bills introduced in the wake of December's mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.
The NRA-supported task force announced a set of proposed school safety measures that counter the rash of gun violence control bills introduced in the wake of December's mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.