Dem. Congressman Announces New Universal Background Check Legislation to Help Curtail Gun Violence



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Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) announced he will introduce bipartisan background checks legislation on January 8.
In a statement posted to his official Twitter account, the Congressman said that Democrats on the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force have “fought to take action to address gun violence” since the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, which left more than 20 people dead, the majority of them young children.
For six long years since the shooting at Sandy Hook, Democrats on @HouseGVP have fought to take action to address gun violence. And with our new majority, we will finally take decisive action to help save lives.
— Mike (Wear A Mask) Thompson (@RepThompson) January 4, 2019
Thompson says he will join Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Arizona Representative Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt near Tucson in 2011, to announce his “new, bipartisan universal background checks legislation.”
I am honored to announce that I will join @SpeakerPelosi and @GabbyGiffords on January 8 to introduce my new, bipartisan universal background checks legislation.
— Mike (Wear A Mask) Thompson (@RepThompson) January 4, 2019
Acknowledging that “the American people have been demanding” legislators work to address gun violence nationwide, Thompson promised that the new Congress “will deliver.”
The American people have been demanding we work to help prevent gun violence and this new Congress will deliver.
— Mike (Wear A Mask) Thompson (@RepThompson) January 4, 2019
Thompson’s announcement came as Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) announced that his administration will introduce a comprehensive package of legislation which “includes measures to require universal background checks; establish an Extreme Risk Protective Order; reinstate Virginia’s One Handgun a Month law; prohibit individuals subject to final protective orders from possessing firearms; ban assault firearms; prevent children from accessing firearms; and require individuals to report lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement,” according to WSET.
“We lose too many Virginians each year to senseless gun violence, and it is time we take meaningful steps to protect the health and safety of our citizens,” said Northam. “I look forward to opening a dialogue with the General Assembly on this legislative package of reasonable gun violence reforms, which appropriately balances Second Amendment Rights with public safety.”
This morning I announced a broad package of reasonable legislation to prevent gun violence and improve Virginia's public safety. I look forward to having a dialogue with the General Assembly this session on these important issues. pic.twitter.com/g8qapNqqbe
— Governor Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 4, 2019
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Alan is an editor whose work has been featured in such publications as Salon, The Advocate, Plus Magazine, and The Huffington Post. As a member of Team Takei, Alan has worked with actor and activist George Takei to push progressive policy initiatives. Alan was born, raised, and still lives and works in New York City, which makes him a member of a dying breed. Email: Alan@HillReporter.com