113th Congress
February 5, 2013
WASHINGTON -- In an effort to keep up pressure for new gun safety laws, nearly a dozen House Democrats are planning to bring victims of gun violence as their guests to the State of the Union later this month.
Members of Congress are each allowed to bring one guest to sit with them in the House gallery during President Barack Obama's address to the nation on Feb. 12. In a letter to Democratic colleagues last month, five House Democrats urged lawmakers to use the occasion to highlight the need for action on gun violence.
Members of Congress are each allowed to bring one guest to sit with them in the House gallery during President Barack Obama's address to the nation on Feb. 12. In a letter to Democratic colleagues last month, five House Democrats urged lawmakers to use the occasion to highlight the need for action on gun violence.
February 5, 2013
Every day for the past 22 years, California's background checks have stopped about a dozen felons, mentally ill people and others from buying guns.
When prospective gun buyers stride into California gun stores such as Ron Kennedy's Canyon Sports in Martinez, they must swipe their driver's licenses or state IDs. That sets off a review process that runs their names not only through the same FBI criminal database other states use but also almost 20 other sources, from mental health records to DMV data. It's a check more rigorous than any other state's.
When prospective gun buyers stride into California gun stores such as Ron Kennedy's Canyon Sports in Martinez, they must swipe their driver's licenses or state IDs. That sets off a review process that runs their names not only through the same FBI criminal database other states use but also almost 20 other sources, from mental health records to DMV data. It's a check more rigorous than any other state's.
February 2, 2013
An appreciable reduction in gun violence in this country requires cultural change, not constitutional amendment.
The right for U.S. citizens to bear arms through the Second Amendment was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008. And it won't be challenged by the Congressional Gun Violence Task Force, led by local Rep. Mike Thompson, which is set to make its legislative recommendations this week.
Nor should it be challenged.
This country's problem of gun violence doesn't come from the law. It is rooted within our culture.
The right for U.S. citizens to bear arms through the Second Amendment was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008. And it won't be challenged by the Congressional Gun Violence Task Force, led by local Rep. Mike Thompson, which is set to make its legislative recommendations this week.
Nor should it be challenged.
This country's problem of gun violence doesn't come from the law. It is rooted within our culture.
February 2, 2013
Rep. Mike Thompson, ,D-St. Helena, discusses causes and solutions to gun violence in America during an interfaith conversation about gun violence at Congregation Beth Shalom in Napa on Saturday.
January 31, 2013
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, a combat Vietnam veteran and senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement endorsing Senator Chuck Hagel's nomination for Secretary of Defense.
January 31, 2013
Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen and California Congressman Mike Thompson announced the details of a friendly wager over the outcome of this Sunday's matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
As members of Congress from the two states represented in the championship game, and as passionate fans of their home state teams, they are competing for both bragging rights and sustenance.
If the 49ers win, Congressman Van Hollen will supply his colleague from California with a batch of world-famous Maryland crab cakes.
As members of Congress from the two states represented in the championship game, and as passionate fans of their home state teams, they are competing for both bragging rights and sustenance.
If the 49ers win, Congressman Van Hollen will supply his colleague from California with a batch of world-famous Maryland crab cakes.
January 31, 2013
Super Bowl fever has struck the nation's capital.
Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) set the terms of a wager in advance of Sunday's NFL championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens.
The two representatives and proud football fans are competing for bragging rights and sustenance.
If the 49ers win, Van Hollen will give Thompson a supply of Maryland crab cakes.
If the Ravens win, Thompson will provide Van Hollen with bottles of wine from Lake, Napa, Sonoma and Contra Costa counties.
Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) set the terms of a wager in advance of Sunday's NFL championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens.
The two representatives and proud football fans are competing for bragging rights and sustenance.
If the 49ers win, Van Hollen will give Thompson a supply of Maryland crab cakes.
If the Ravens win, Thompson will provide Van Hollen with bottles of wine from Lake, Napa, Sonoma and Contra Costa counties.
January 31, 2013
North Bay Congressman speaks after Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Hearing.
January 30, 2013
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5), chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in the House, today released the following statement on the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing on gun violence.
“Gun violence is a complex problem with complex solutions. To address it, we need a comprehensive approach that's developed by having every idea on the table and everyone at the table. That's the approach my task force has taken since day one, and it's the approach the Senate started today.
“Gun violence is a complex problem with complex solutions. To address it, we need a comprehensive approach that's developed by having every idea on the table and everyone at the table. That's the approach my task force has taken since day one, and it's the approach the Senate started today.
January 30, 2013
Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen and California Congressman Mike Thompson announced the details of a friendly wager over the outcome of this Sunday's matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. As Members of Congress from the two states represented in the championship game, and as passionate fans of their home state teams, they are competing for both bragging rights and sustenance.