North Bay Rep. Thompson Holding Public Forums On Gun Violence Reduction
VALLEJO (CBS SF) -- Rep. Mike Thompson is holding public forums in the North Bay on gun violence reduction and prevention Wednesday night and Thursday.
Thompson, D-St. Helena, whose district includes all or parts of Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa and Lake counties, will hear public comment on the controversial gun control issue in Vallejo City Council chambers at 555 Santa Clara St. between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. tonight.
Another forum will be held in the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors chambers at 575 Administration Drive in Santa Rosa on Thursday between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
A forum was held at Napa City Hall Tuesday night.
Thompson is the chair of a 13-member congressional Gun Violence
Prevention Task Force that will hold hearings over the next month on reducing and preventing gun violence. Policy proposals are expected to be released in early February.
Thompson said the task force "will bring unique ideas to the table as we work to reduce and prevent gun violence while also protecting the rights of law-abiding individuals without a history of dangerous mental illness to own legitimate firearms for legitimate purposes."
Thompson is a hunter, gun owner, former chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and a Vietnam veteran.
Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas, District Attorney Jill Ravitch, schools Superintendent Steve Herrington and Behavioral Health Division director Mike Kennedy are scheduled to participate in Thursday's forum.
Thompson said public comment at the community level will help the congressional task force form its policy recommendations.
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