House Gun Violence Job Force chairman U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) speaks for the duration of a hearing before the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force last 12 months on Capitol Hill.
Photograph by Alex Wong/Getty Photographs
Photograph by T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Pictures
"I am proud to announce our leadership group for the Gun Violence Prevention Job Force," said Thompson. "Our vice chairs have a broad range of expertise, come from different backgrounds, and will deliver exceptional concepts to the table as we get the job done to lower and protect against gun violence while also defending the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. In 113th Congress our process force was productive in raising funding for background examine technique to record levels. Now we require to get the subsequent, and most critical, phase towards lowering gun violence by expanding background method so it cant be bypassed with the click of a mouse or by driving to a gun present."
Immediately after the December 14, 2012 college shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary College in Newtown, Connecticut, Thompson was named by Home Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to chair a congressional process force on minimizing and stopping gun violence. Thompson is a hunter, gun owner, former chair of the Congressional Sportsmens Caucus, and veteran who carried a military-design assault weapon during a tour in Vietnam.
In February 2013, the task force announced a thorough set of policy concepts designed to minimize gun violence while respecting the 2nd Amendment Rights of law-abiding Americans.
Help the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding AmericansSupport citizens' rights to possess firearms for hunting, shooting sports activities, defense, and other lawful and legit purposesReinstate and strengthen a prospective federal ban on assault weaponsReinstate a potential federal ban on assault magazinesRequire a background check for each and every gun sale, although respecting affordable exceptions for instances such as presents amongst loved ones members and temporary loans for sporting purposesStrengthen the Nationwide Instant Criminal Background Check Process (NICS) databaseProsecute people prohibited customers who attempt to purchase firearms and other individuals who violate federal firearm lawsPass legislation aimed particularly at cracking down on illegal gun trafficking and straw-purchasingRestore funding for public safety and law enforcement initiatives aimed at decreasing gun violenceSupport initiatives that stop difficulties just before they startClose the holes in our mental-wellness method and make positive that care is available for these who need itHelp our communities get undesirable and unlawful guns out of the hands of these who will not want them or shouldn't have themSupport responsible gun ownershipTake actions to increase college safetyAddress our culture's glorification of violence noticed and heard even though our film screens, television displays, music and video game
The eleven Vice Chairs for the 114th Congress are:
Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-5), who represents the community of Newtown Im honored to continue to serve as Vice Chair of the U.S. Residence Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. The scourge of gun violence is devastating our communities. Congress has shamefully failed to act on commonsense reforms, like expanded background checks and stricter punishments for unlawful gun trafficking and straw obtaining. These reforms defend the 2nd amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners, enjoy overwhelming support from the American folks, and will conserve lives. I appear forward to continuing to get the job done with my colleagues in Congressparticularly new membersto retain our children and our communities risk-free from gun violence.
Rep. Chaka Fattah (PA-2) It is a privilege to proceed serving as one of the Vice-Chairs of this job force, charged with reducing gun violence and building our communities safer places to reside and perform. I am proud to have contributed to our progress final Congress, foremost the effort that secured $73 million to help states in improving background check data servicing. There is no community in this country immune from the tragedies of gun violence, and as we sustain our efforts, I hope we can uncover consensus and enact smart legislation to strengthen our countrys gun laws.
Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-two), writer of the 2014 Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America Id like to thank Chairman Thompson for the chance to serve. Im energized to perform with him and the process force to strengthen the coalition towards gun violence and to pursue typical sense remedies to gun violence that stability our 2nd Amendment rights with the appropriate of all Americans to reside absolutely free from the risk of gun violence.
Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-32) Suicide is the major bring about of gun deaths in the U.S. these days, yet psychological wellbeing services are rarely discussed as a indicates to prevent gun violence. However the mischaracterization of men and women struggling from mental sickness halts the progress we have made toward our target: eliminating stigma to guarantee people struggling know it is always okay to look for assist. By detecting and treating psychological illness early on we can help minimize self-harm or harm to others, stopping tragedies from happening. I appear forward to carry on addressing the mental well being part of gun violence prevention and operating with my colleagues on this crucial public health concern.
Rep. Rick Nolan (MN- cool I know that accountable gun-ownership is an integral portion of our heritage in my household state of Minnesota I am a lifelong sportsman and gun when owner, and have hunted in northern and central Minnesota my whole daily life. The vast majority of my fellow sportsmen comprehend there is a will need for a comprehensive approach to lower and prevent gun violence even though continuing to shield our 2nd Amendment rights. In that spirit, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to implement policies that defend our young children and communities confronting the actuality of every day gun violence and risk of senseless mass shootings.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-seven) "Colorado is home to some of the worst tragic mass shootings in our nation. Part of my get the job done on this essential activity force is to prevent other households possessing to struggle with the violence and pain brought on by mental wellness issues and gun violence."
Rep. David Cost (NC-four) The time has come for Congress to pass prevalent-sense legislation to decrease gun violence and avert long term tragedies like Sandy Hook. I appear forward to continuing to function with my colleagues on the Gun Violence Prevention Process Force to build and propose wise reforms that would make our colleges and communities safer although permitting law-abiding gun owners to use their weapons for recreation or self-defense.
Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-4) Im proud to join this undertaking force. As a career prosecutor, I come to this problem from a law enforcement perspective. Im not out to restrict any law-abiding citizens correct to own a gun I want to maintain guns away from persons who arent legally allowed to have them by closing the loopholes that permit violent criminals, domestic abusers and individuals with harmful psychological illnesses to keep away from background checks. Im keen to function with my fellow task force members to get it completed.
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Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3), serving his 12th term representing Virginia's 3rd Congressional District and is the Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He has sponsored the Youth Guarantee Act, which would give sources to state and regional governments for complete, evidenced-based approaches and packages to stop juvenile crime "I am honored to serve another phrase as a vice chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Activity Force. Because the tragedy at Newtown, Connecticut, this process force has been doing work tirelessly to locate legislative solutions to lessen gun violence and sadly our perform is nonetheless incredibly considerably needed. Naturally a single single method to ending gun violence will not be powerful. But what can be most productive is a thorough, proof-based strategy that involves gun security, mental health, juvenile justice, and crime prevention initiatives. I search forward to doing work with Chairman Thompson, our returning vice chairs and our newly appointed vice chairs to advance these difficulties in the 114th Congress."
Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-12), Legislative Counsel quad to Congressman Leo Ryan in 1978 when she accompanied him to investigate the People's Temple cult in Jonestown, Guyana. Congressman Ryan was assassinated, and Speier was shot 5 occasions at near variety. She still carries two of the bullets in her physique - We need to have to face the truth: America has a gun issue. With every single new headline, we are reminded of the deadly cost of inaction. Congress cannot proceed its silence even though gun violence in this nation continues. On average each and every day 32 Americans are murdered with a gun, 51 folks destroy themselves with a gun, and 45 folks are accidentally shot with a gun. I search forward to operating with The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force to enact commonsense reforms, such as universal background checks, ending the gun present loophole, and looking at ammunition at this time obtainable.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-two), an avid hunter, was selected to chair the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmans Caucus in the course of the 113th Congress. Congressman Thompson has served as the lead Democrat on the Home Committee on Homeland Safety considering that 2007. Prior to his election to Congress, Congressman Thompson served as alderman and mayor of Bolton, Mississippi and as a supervisor in Hinds, County Mississippi I am pleased to serve as Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Activity force during in the 114th. I appear forward to doing work with my colleagues on reducing the amount of Americans affected by gun violence whilst defending law abiding citizens 2nd Amendment Rights.
Incoming Vice-Chairs Kelly, Nolan and Rice are replacing outgoing Vice-Chairs John D. Dingell, Carolyn McCarthy and Ron Barber.
