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Thompson on National Gun Violence Awareness Day

June 2, 2017

Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05)—Chairman of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force—released the following statement on National Gun Violence Awareness Day:

"Every day, another family mourns the loss of a child, a sibling, a parent, or a friend because of gun violence. As a country, we've grieved for those lost in the tragedies of Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, Orlando, and too many other communities. And through it all, Congress has turned a blind eye.

"Not anymore. Today, I am proud to join thousands of activists across the nation in wearing orange and demanding to be seen. We need real solutions to put a stop to the carnage. As Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I have worked hard on proposals to close loopholes in our background check system and form a select committee to study the causes of gun violence. Enough is enough. It is time for Congress to see the problem plaguing our country and do something to stop it."

As a Vietnam veteran, sportsman, and hunter, Thompson is a proud supporter of the Second Amendment. He works hard on solutions to curb gun violence without infringing on Americans' constitutional rights. He has proposed several measures to address gun violence, including:

  • Forming a Select Committee to investigate gun violence and develop comprehensive solutions
  • Closing loopholes in our background check system that allow some firearm purchasers—such as those at gun shows or on the internet—to buy a gun without a check
  • Cracking down on straw-purchases and illegal gun trafficking
  • Strengthening the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by ensuring records are up to date

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