Press Release
Posted:
Washington – Today, Mike Thompson (CA-05), Chairman of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, joined Fmr. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, lawmakers, and activists to demand action from Congress. Despite horrific mass shootings like those in Tucson, Sandy Hook, and Orlando, Congress has failed to pass a single bill aimed at reducing gun violence. Recently, Republicans and the President have actually taken steps to weaken the background check system and make it easier for criminals to buy firearms.
“Too many innocent lives have been lost to gun violence,” said Thompson. “The American people have spoken loud and clear: they want action. They want Congress to do its job and pass common sense solutions like making sure that all commercial sales require a background check. It’s not an unreasonable request. I am proud to stand with my former colleague, Gabby, and everyone who has been impacted by gun violence on working on ways to keep our kids, police officers, and communities safe.”
Thompson is the lead Democrat on the bipartisan King-Thompson background check legislation, which will be reintroduced later this year. Their bill requires background checks for commercial gun sales, closing loopholes that allow purchases over the internet and at trade shows to occur before a check is complete.