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April 16, 2013
Rep. Mike Thompson, a gun-owning Vietnam veteran hand-picked by House minority leader Nancy Pelosi to forge a bipartisan agreement on gun legislation in the House, unveiled a companion background check bill Tuesday that has bipartisan support.
April 15, 2013
Gun control is complicated. Legislation is byzantine. A policy wonk breaks it down.
The Senate has begun debating landmark gun control legislation. The House will soon have its own proposals. Background checks are in the spotlight. Democrats and their allies want to expand them by eliminating exceptions like the “gun show loophole,” which applies to private sales between individuals, and augmenting the national database of criminal and mentally unstable persons. But the whole story is more complicated.
The Senate has begun debating landmark gun control legislation. The House will soon have its own proposals. Background checks are in the spotlight. Democrats and their allies want to expand them by eliminating exceptions like the “gun show loophole,” which applies to private sales between individuals, and augmenting the national database of criminal and mentally unstable persons. But the whole story is more complicated.
April 11, 2013
A leading House Democrat is accusing opponents of expanded screenings for firearms sales of hypocrisy in the fight against gun violence.
Rep. Mike Thompson (Calif.), who heads the House Democratic task force on gun violence, said those challenging an extension of mandatory background checks have no right to claim an interest in keeping guns out of the hands of violent people.
Rep. Mike Thompson (Calif.), who heads the House Democratic task force on gun violence, said those challenging an extension of mandatory background checks have no right to claim an interest in keeping guns out of the hands of violent people.
April 11, 2013
A bipartisan compromise act addressing background checks for firearms sales, the collaboration of two junior U.S. senators, earned the praise of U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, Benicia's representative in the House.
The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., would require states and the federal government to send all necessary records on criminals and the violently mentally ill to the national Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., would require states and the federal government to send all necessary records on criminals and the violently mentally ill to the national Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
April 11, 2013
With the Senate set to vote on a comprehensive gun-violence prevention bill, a new poll released Friday and commissioned by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and VoteVets.org leaves no doubt that veterans believe the president and Congress need to do something to address gun violence.
The nationwide survey of 804 registered voters who are veterans of the military illustrates that veterans believe it is possible to strengthen the country's gun laws while continuing to protect the right to bear arms.
The nationwide survey of 804 registered voters who are veterans of the military illustrates that veterans believe it is possible to strengthen the country's gun laws while continuing to protect the right to bear arms.
April 11, 2013
With the Senate set to vote on a comprehensive gun-violence prevention bill, a new poll released Friday and commissioned by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and VoteVets.org leaves no doubt that veterans believe the president and Congress need to do something to address gun violence.
The nationwide survey of 804 registered voters who are veterans of the military illustrates that veterans believe it is possible to strengthen the country's gun laws while continuing to protect the right to bear arms.
The nationwide survey of 804 registered voters who are veterans of the military illustrates that veterans believe it is possible to strengthen the country's gun laws while continuing to protect the right to bear arms.
April 11, 2013
A vast majority of veterans believe that it's important for Congress and President Obama to address gun violence, and that responsible gun owners' Second Amendment rights can be protected while making it harder for criminals and other dangerous people to own guns, according to a new poll.
A tremendous 91 percent of veterans support requiring a background check of everyone who wants to buy a firearm, the poll found, and 99 percent support increasing criminal penalties for people convicted of trafficking guns to criminals.
A tremendous 91 percent of veterans support requiring a background check of everyone who wants to buy a firearm, the poll found, and 99 percent support increasing criminal penalties for people convicted of trafficking guns to criminals.
April 11, 2013
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, released the following statement on the Senate vote to allow debate on gun legislation.
“Today Senate Republicans and Democrats voted overwhelmingly to reject the shameful filibuster that attempted to deny Americans a vote on legislation that will reduce and prevent gun violence.
“Today Senate Republicans and Democrats voted overwhelmingly to reject the shameful filibuster that attempted to deny Americans a vote on legislation that will reduce and prevent gun violence.
April 10, 2013
U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Pete King (R-NY) today released the following statement on the agreement reached by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) that would expand background checks for firearm sales at gun shows and over the internet.
April 10, 2013
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee On Intelligence today introduced and passed several privacy related provisions to H.R. 624, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) during today's committee proceedings on the bill. CISPA allows for information sharing about cyber threats between the intelligence community and businesses. The intelligence community would keep businesses aware of potential cyber attacks that threaten national security and the economy.
Issues:Defense