Chairman Thompson Statement on ATF Director Todd Jones

Statement

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, released the following statement on the Senate vote confirming Todd Jones as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

"In February my task force released a comprehensive set of policy principles that respect the Second Amendment and would reduce gun violence. The confirmation of a permanent ATF Director was one of our recommendations and I commend the Senate for taking this important step in confirming Director Jones. However, this is just the first of many important steps we must take to reduce gun violence in our nation. We need to pass legislation requiring that anyone buying a gun at a gun show or over the Internet get a background check. This is the first line of defense against criminals, the dangerously mentally ill and terrorists getting guns."

Thompson co-authored H.R. 1565 with Pete King (R-NY). The bipartisan King-Thompson legislation is identical to the bipartisan agreement on background checks struck by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA). More than 180 House members have cosponsored the bill.

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