House to hold first hearing on gun violence in nearly a decade

The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on gun violence prevention for the first time in eight years, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) said Thursday.

Thompson, chairman of the Democratic Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, said in a statement that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) announced the committee will hold the hearing next Wednesday.

{mosads}“The U.S. House of Representatives is finally taking action to prevent gun violence – our new majority is answering the call of the American people,” Thompson said.

“For six years, our Task Force implored the previous majority to hold hearings and we were denied. This is a new day – we will have a hearing and we will get results. I am deeply grateful to Chairman Nadler for his leadership on this issue.  … No longer will Congress be silent on this issue.

Breaking News: The House will hold the first hearing on gun violence prevention in eight years! Stay tuned next Wednesday, February 6 at 10am ET because the House is finally taking action to prevent gun violence. pic.twitter.com/eXPcJC6snw

— Mike Thompson (@RepThompson) January 31, 2019

Thompson, the author of a universal background check bill, said that he looks forward to having a vote on the bill.

The national conversation on gun control saw renewed energy after a gunman killed 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., almost one year ago.

Several states passed gun control measures last year amid a string of mass shootings, but the House and Senate have failed to move forward on any widespread legislation.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in December that House Democrats planned to act “boldly and decisively” on gun reform in the new Congress.