CHAIRMAN THOMPSON STATEMENT ON TUCSON SHOOTING ANNIVERSARY
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, released the following statement on the three year anniversary of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona in which former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot and wounded:
"Three years ago today, my good friend and former colleague, Gabby Giffords, was meeting her constituents at a public event when a gunman opened fire on the crowd. Gabby, Rep. Ron Barber, and 11 others were wounded. Six were killed.
"In the three years since, we've witnessed more incidences of horrific gun violence in places like Aurora, Colorado, Newtown, Connecticut, and the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. Also in the three years since, the House of Representatives hasn't done one thing to help reduce or prevent acts of gun violence.
"When seemingly regular acts of mass gun violence afflict our communities, and more than 30 people are killed every day by someone using a gun, inaction is unacceptable.
"With the help of Rep. Ron Barber, Gabby's former district representative, and my Democratic colleagues in the House, my task force developed a comprehensive set of policy principles that respect the Second Amendment and will prevent and reduce gun violence. We should act on these principles, and we should start by passing bipartisan background check legislation that will help keep guns out of dangerous hands."
Thompson and U.S. Rep. Pete King (R-NY) are co-authors of H.R. 1565, bipartisan legislation to expand the current background check system to all commercial gun sales. Joining them are original co-authors Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Pat Meehan (R-PA), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Peter Defazio (D-OR).
The bipartisan King-Thompson legislation is identical to the bipartisan agreement on background checks struck by A-rated NRA Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA).
In February 2013, Thompson's task force released a comprehensive set of policy principles on how to reduce and prevent gun violence.
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 and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. 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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