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Thompson Introduces Petition to Force Vote on Background Checks Bill

February 26, 2018

Bipartisan legislation would help keep guns from dangerous individuals

Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, introduced a discharge petition that would force a vote on the bipartisan Thompson-King Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act. This bill provides resources to help states strengthen and expand the background checks system and closes a number of gun sale loopholes. Text of the discharge petition can be found by clicking here.

"Every member of ongress knows that we must take action to prevent gun violence. Though we may not all agree on everything, we agree that we must expand background checks," said Thompson. "Today, I filed a discharge petition on the bipartisan background checks bill that would strengthen background checks systems in states across our nation. This bill is bipartisan and should have a vote immediately. Each day 30 people die are killed by someone using a gun and we cannot let another day pass without action."

A discharge petition is procedure that helps to force widely supported pieces of legislation to the floor. If a majority of members of Congress sign the petition, it is brought to the floor without the approval of the Speaker. This procedure allows the House to take up bills that are supported by the majority of the country but blocked by Republican leaders.

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 Gun Violence Prevention Task Force as well as the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.