Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Vice Chair Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (Conn.-5) and Chairman Congressman Mike Thompson (Calif.-5) will join Jr Newtown Action Alliance and Connecticut Teens Against Gun Violence, as well as activists from Newtown Action Alliance and Connecticut Against Gun Violence, for a roundtable discussion on federal gun violence prevention initiatives. The discussion takes place Tuesday, October 23, from 5 to 6 pm, at the C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

During the discussion, Esty and Thompson have the opportunity to highlight the work of the task force as well as thank the students for their efforts and bring attention the need for continued work to prevent gun violence.

Esty, vice chairman of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, has been a strong advocate for gun violence prevention legislation throughout her career. Two bills Esty championed, the Fix NICS Act and the STOP School Violence Act, have both been signed into law. The Fix NICS Act closes gaps in the national background check system, and the STOP School Violence Act gives educators and students tools to spot the potential for violent incidents and prevent them before they happen.

In the wake of the school shooting in Newtown at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Thompson was named chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Thompson is a hunter and lifelong gun owner who also believes that Congress must do more to reduce gun violence. He is the lead co-author of H.R.4240, the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, which strengthens and expands our nation’s background checks system. This bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by 208 Members of Congress, including 14 Republicans.

Other Esty initiatives include:

*The Keep Americans Safe Act, which would limit high-capacity magazines like those used at Newtown;

*Gun Violence Restraining Order Act, which is modeled on successful, bipartisan legislation in Connecticut, allowing authorities to temporarily take guns from those judged by a court to be a threat to themselves or others;

*Assault Weapons Ban of 2018, which would end the sale of assault weapons in America.

*Comprehensive Background Check Legislation, which would provide for comprehensive background checks while providing for common sense exceptions for transfers to family members and friends.

*Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act, which would ensure people who have abused dating partners are prohibited from buying or owning firearms and close the loophole that lets some convicted stalkers access to guns.

*Gun Violence Research Act, which would repeal the Dickey Amendment, which states, “None of the funds made available in this title may be used, in whole or part, to advocate or promote gun control.”