113th Congress

Rep. Mike Thompson, the Napa Dem who heads the House task force on gun violence prevention, said he sees a chance for compromise despite Wednesday's Senate hearing (see below), if everybody lays down their arms, so to speak. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, made a similar point at the hearing, calling for universal background checks as a starting point, rather than California Sen. Dianne Feinstein's bill to ban assault weapons.

Here's Thompson's statement:

A teacher concerned about her school's safety. A union leader having trouble overcoming members' fear of losing their guns. People weary of death on the streets.

Hours after the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., heard testimony from both sides of the gun debate, Bay Area residents got their chance to sound off at a forum attended by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic gun violence task force chairman Rep. Mike Thompson and vice chairwoman Rep. Jackie Speier.

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.

The day before Sen. Dianne Feinstein is scheduled to introduce her bill to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, a working group of House Democrats hears proposals for stemming gun violence.

The Cotati City Council is now part of the controversial and fiery debate on gun control in the United States.

In the wake of the shooting tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the council at its meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 23, was expected to pass an item on its consent calendar which would send a letter to support the efforts of U.S. Representative Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena, 5th District), the Democratic chair of Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

A lifetime National Rifle Association member said Wednesday during a Capitol Hill hearing on gun violence that he doesn't think putting an armed guard in every school â€" an idea being pushed by NRA leadership â€" is productive.

James Cummings, a hunter, sportsman and gun owner, spoke during a hearing before members of a Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, chaired by Rep. Mike Thompson, California Democrat. The hearing also featured testimony from representatives of the law enforcement, medical, and mental health communities.

Americans support universal background checks, stronger prosecution of gun offenses and limits on ammunition.