News Articles
February 5, 2013
Every day for the past 22 years, California's background checks have stopped about a dozen felons, mentally ill people and others from buying guns.
When prospective gun buyers stride into California gun stores such as Ron Kennedy's Canyon Sports in Martinez, they must swipe their driver's licenses or state IDs. That sets off a review process that runs their names not only through the same FBI criminal database other states use but also almost 20 other sources, from mental health records to DMV data. It's a check more rigorous than any other state's.
When prospective gun buyers stride into California gun stores such as Ron Kennedy's Canyon Sports in Martinez, they must swipe their driver's licenses or state IDs. That sets off a review process that runs their names not only through the same FBI criminal database other states use but also almost 20 other sources, from mental health records to DMV data. It's a check more rigorous than any other state's.
February 2, 2013
An appreciable reduction in gun violence in this country requires cultural change, not constitutional amendment.
The right for U.S. citizens to bear arms through the Second Amendment was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008. And it won't be challenged by the Congressional Gun Violence Task Force, led by local Rep. Mike Thompson, which is set to make its legislative recommendations this week.
Nor should it be challenged.
This country's problem of gun violence doesn't come from the law. It is rooted within our culture.
The right for U.S. citizens to bear arms through the Second Amendment was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008. And it won't be challenged by the Congressional Gun Violence Task Force, led by local Rep. Mike Thompson, which is set to make its legislative recommendations this week.
Nor should it be challenged.
This country's problem of gun violence doesn't come from the law. It is rooted within our culture.
February 2, 2013
Rep. Mike Thompson, ,D-St. Helena, discusses causes and solutions to gun violence in America during an interfaith conversation about gun violence at Congregation Beth Shalom in Napa on Saturday.
January 31, 2013
Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen and California Congressman Mike Thompson announced the details of a friendly wager over the outcome of this Sunday's matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
As members of Congress from the two states represented in the championship game, and as passionate fans of their home state teams, they are competing for both bragging rights and sustenance.
If the 49ers win, Congressman Van Hollen will supply his colleague from California with a batch of world-famous Maryland crab cakes.
As members of Congress from the two states represented in the championship game, and as passionate fans of their home state teams, they are competing for both bragging rights and sustenance.
If the 49ers win, Congressman Van Hollen will supply his colleague from California with a batch of world-famous Maryland crab cakes.
January 31, 2013
Super Bowl fever has struck the nation's capital.
Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) set the terms of a wager in advance of Sunday's NFL championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens.
The two representatives and proud football fans are competing for bragging rights and sustenance.
If the 49ers win, Van Hollen will give Thompson a supply of Maryland crab cakes.
If the Ravens win, Thompson will provide Van Hollen with bottles of wine from Lake, Napa, Sonoma and Contra Costa counties.
Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) set the terms of a wager in advance of Sunday's NFL championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens.
The two representatives and proud football fans are competing for bragging rights and sustenance.
If the 49ers win, Van Hollen will give Thompson a supply of Maryland crab cakes.
If the Ravens win, Thompson will provide Van Hollen with bottles of wine from Lake, Napa, Sonoma and Contra Costa counties.
January 31, 2013
North Bay Congressman speaks after Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Hearing.
January 30, 2013
Rep. Mike Thompson, the California Democrat charged with crafting gun safety policies in the House of Representatives, keeps talking about ducks.
More specifically, duck hunting.
“Federal law prohibits me from having more than three shells in my shotgun when I'm duck hunting. So federal law provides more protection for the ducks than it does for citizens,” Thompson said earlier this month during a panel discussion on gun violence at the liberal Center for American Progress.
More specifically, duck hunting.
“Federal law prohibits me from having more than three shells in my shotgun when I'm duck hunting. So federal law provides more protection for the ducks than it does for citizens,” Thompson said earlier this month during a panel discussion on gun violence at the liberal Center for American Progress.
January 30, 2013
Rep. Mike Thompson, the Napa Dem who heads the House task force on gun violence prevention, said he sees a chance for compromise despite Wednesday's Senate hearing (see below), if everybody lays down their arms, so to speak. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, made a similar point at the hearing, calling for universal background checks as a starting point, rather than California Sen. Dianne Feinstein's bill to ban assault weapons.
Here's Thompson's statement:
Here's Thompson's statement:
January 30, 2013
A teacher concerned about her school's safety. A union leader having trouble overcoming members' fear of losing their guns. People weary of death on the streets.
Hours after the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., heard testimony from both sides of the gun debate, Bay Area residents got their chance to sound off at a forum attended by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic gun violence task force chairman Rep. Mike Thompson and vice chairwoman Rep. Jackie Speier.
Hours after the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., heard testimony from both sides of the gun debate, Bay Area residents got their chance to sound off at a forum attended by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic gun violence task force chairman Rep. Mike Thompson and vice chairwoman Rep. Jackie Speier.
January 30, 2013
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5), chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in the House, today released the following statement on the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on gun violence.
“Gun violence is a complex problem with complex solutions. To address it, we need a comprehensive approach that's developed by having every idea on the table and everyone at the table. That's the approach my task force has taken since day one, and it's the approach the Senate started today.
“Gun violence is a complex problem with complex solutions. To address it, we need a comprehensive approach that's developed by having every idea on the table and everyone at the table. That's the approach my task force has taken since day one, and it's the approach the Senate started today.