CHAIRMAN THOMPSON INTRODUCES RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH SELECT COMMITTEE ON GUN VIOLENCE
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, today introduced a resolution to establish a Select Committee of the House to study gun violence. The committee would be comprised of six Republicans and six Democrats. It would issue a final report and recommendations, including legislative proposals within 60 days of its establishment. The resolution is co-sponsored by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and the 11 vice-chairs of Thompson's Task Force.
"This House Majority has created committees to bully Planned Parenthood and harass a presidential candidate, all the while allowing mass gun violence to go unchecked and unexamined on their watch," said Thompson. "There have been nearly 280 mass shootings since Newtown and Congress has done nothing. No votes have been cast. No bills have been debated. No proposals have even been considered. This Select Committee can change that. We're offering Republicans a seat at the table. We want to hear their thoughts and ideas. We want to work with them. No proposal is going to stop every shooting, but we can come up with solutions that stop some tragedies. Failing to come to the table is equal to sitting by and allowing mass gun violence to becomeAmerica's new normal. Congress has a responsibility to do better than that. We need to step up, pull together and address this problem. It is within our power to do something to help save lives. Let's not waste it."
The Select Committee on Gun Violence would study and make recommendations to address the following:
- The causes of mass shootings
- Methods to improve the Federal firearms purchaser background check system
- Connections between access to firearms and dangerously mentally ill individuals
- Federal penalties for trafficking and straw purchasing of firearms
- Loopholes that allow some domestic abusers continued access to firearms
- Linkages between firearms and suicide
- Gun violence's effect on public health
- The correlation between State gun violence prevention laws and the incidence of gun violence
- The importance of having reliable and accurate information on gun violence and its toll on our Nation
- The implementation of effective gun violence prevention laws in accordance with the Second Amendment to the Constitution
- Rates of gun violence in large metropolitan areas
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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