Napa Valley Register - Rep. Thompson To Chair Gun Reform Task Force
December 18, 2012
By Peter Jensen
Ban on assault weapons, better mental health services are proposed.
In response to the elementary school shooting last week in Newtown, Conn., U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, will be leading a new task force in Congress that will examine potential changes in federal gun laws.
The move follows calls from Congressional Democrats to tighten restrictions on guns. U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., announced the formation of the task force to Democrats in the House of Representatives, the news website Politico reported Tuesday.
The task force will also examine mental-health issues and violence among youths, according to Politico.
In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Thompson said as a gun-owner and Vietnam veteran who formerly served as co-chair of Congressional Sportsman Caucus, he supports the Second Amendment which guarantees the right to bear arms.
“I understand guns, their purpose and how they are used,” Thompson said. “Military-type assault weapons and assault magazines have no place on our streets or in our communities.”
Thompson said his hope is to have lawmakers consider implementing more rigorous background checks on prospective gun owners while ensuring that “appropriate mental health services are available.”
“As chair of this task force I will be working on these issues as part of a comprehensive approach to reduce gun violence and strengthen our nation's gun laws while protecting law abiding citizens' right to own legitimate firearms,” Thompson said in the statement.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has also pledged to introduce a new ban on assault weapons.
In a statement Saturday, Larson said a failure to act in the wake of the shooting would mean being complicit in the next mass-shooting.
“Congress should be prepared to vote on requiring background checks for all gun sales, closing the terrorist watch list loopholes, and banning assault weapons and high capacity clips,” Larson said.
“Those measures don't solve all our problems, but they're a start. We also need to focus on our mental health care system. We need to support a better process for families and friends to share their concerns and fears with authorities about people's mental status.”
In response to the elementary school shooting last week in Newtown, Conn., U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, will be leading a new task force in Congress that will examine potential changes in federal gun laws.
The move follows calls from Congressional Democrats to tighten restrictions on guns. U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., announced the formation of the task force to Democrats in the House of Representatives, the news website Politico reported Tuesday.
The task force will also examine mental-health issues and violence among youths, according to Politico.
In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Thompson said as a gun-owner and Vietnam veteran who formerly served as co-chair of Congressional Sportsman Caucus, he supports the Second Amendment which guarantees the right to bear arms.
“I understand guns, their purpose and how they are used,” Thompson said. “Military-type assault weapons and assault magazines have no place on our streets or in our communities.”
Thompson said his hope is to have lawmakers consider implementing more rigorous background checks on prospective gun owners while ensuring that “appropriate mental health services are available.”
“As chair of this task force I will be working on these issues as part of a comprehensive approach to reduce gun violence and strengthen our nation's gun laws while protecting law abiding citizens' right to own legitimate firearms,” Thompson said in the statement.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has also pledged to introduce a new ban on assault weapons.
In a statement Saturday, Larson said a failure to act in the wake of the shooting would mean being complicit in the next mass-shooting.
“Congress should be prepared to vote on requiring background checks for all gun sales, closing the terrorist watch list loopholes, and banning assault weapons and high capacity clips,” Larson said.
“Those measures don't solve all our problems, but they're a start. We also need to focus on our mental health care system. We need to support a better process for families and friends to share their concerns and fears with authorities about people's mental status.”