FAIRFIELD — With Tuesday’s mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, fresh on his mind, Rep. Mike Thompson forcefully opened his online town hall meeting with Sen. Bill Dodd by addressing gun violence.

“It seems it doesn’t matter how gruesome, how senseless, how terrible these gun violence tragedies are, I have colleagues in Washington, D.C., that refuse to spend the political capital, to show the courage to do what is necessary to help keep our communities safe,” Thompson, D-St. Helena, said. “There is no one bill that can be passed to solve all the problems, but there are common-sense steps we can take that will help reduce gun violence.”

Thompson mentioned that once Congress returns to Washington next week so-called “red flag legislation” will be discussed. Such legislation proposes that if someone in the community is showing peculiar activity that may looked upon as a danger, authorities can be notified and the authorities can interview that person and if need be, remove weapons from them and help their needs.

The rest of the town hall – the 21st offered by Dodd, D-Napa, since the beginning of the pandemic – dealt with issues Thompson is dealing with on the federal level and Dodd is working on in the state Legislature.

Issues the state is currently addressing, Dodd said, include inflation, high gas prices, spending proposals related to affordable housing, dealing with homelessness, the effects of climate change, the future safety of Highway 37, and wildfire protection, particularly the use of prescribed fires as a defense mechanism.

Dodd said financial aid will be going out at some point for those in need over the gas prices. Members of the Legislature are working to create affordable loans for first-time homebuyers and searching the state’s surplus properties and assessing their potential as housing sites. Dodd also mentioned finding more shelter for homeless people and help with mental illness, including his own legislation that would bring mobile pharmacies to the public.

Dodd said the state has built up a $97 billion budget surplus through progressive tax codes and the state on solid financial footing – but it comes with “significant responsibilities.”

“2022 has been another challenging year with major challenges and I’m confident Californians will rise to the occasion,” Dodd said. “The state Legislature has been laser-focused on solving the problems of today.”

Thompson not only talked about gun violence, but of the challenges of the global pandemic; and passage of the biggest infrastructure bill in history – $1.2 trillion – that he said will create jobs and not only improve roads and bridges, but help with fire prevention, water delivery systems and the electrical grid, add charging stations and fund the wide expansion of broadband availability for all Americans.

He also mentioned the Supreme Court’s “attack” on the reproductive rights for women and the baby formula crisis.

Thompson said abortion decisions should remain with the woman, “her family, her faith, her doctor, and politicians don’t need to be sticking their nose into their business.”

Thompson said the war in Ukraine, “an illegal attack on democracy,” has affected gas, fertilizer and food prices in the U.S., caused inflation to increase and brought on major issues. The slowed production of computer chips has also been a major issue.

“The challenges have impacted all of us,” Thompson said. “There is a challenge around every corner, but it is important that we do everything we can to help the Ukrainian people.”

The public that participated in the town hall voiced concerns for the timetable on Highway 37’s improvements, moving pedophiles into high traffic areas, dredging, the taxing of well water and solar, and wildfire prevention.

The town hall also included David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University, who talked about the importance of the election year and the changing landscape of politics.

Dodd currently represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all of Solano County and all or portions of Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties. Thompson currently represents the 5th Congressional District, which includes the Vallejo and Benicia areas of Solano County and all or parts of Napa, Contra Costa, Lake and Sonoma counties.

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Define “safe.” “There is no one bill that can be passed to solve all the problems, but there are common-sense steps we can take that will help reduce gun violence.” Blah, blah, blah. Great! Then stop talking about it and DO something! But first and foremost, protect our children! Clearly, there is a disconnect between the actual definition of “safe,” and the current levels of “policing.” Start there Sir, get back into the business of traffic enforcement and go after it hard. Fairfield could be the model, the city that restored law and order, something dangerously absent in every city. Higher, overall crime rates due to the absence of traffic patrols are indisputable. A simple fix, start now. Today. It’s a guaranteed 50% reduction in crime within weeks. This has gone on long enough, it’s long past time to wake up and get busy.

There are already over 200 million guns in this country and enough ammunition to defeat any attempt by the government to take them away. So lets focus on mental health, enforcement of existing laws, and the family unit. Let’s limit video game violence, movie violence, TV violence etc. Let’s hold Hollywood accountable for glorifying violence and then condemning it in real life. Let’s focus on the kids, their mental health and set expectations such as doing something like this will bring shame to your family forever. Let’s have a system where families and friends can report, with some evidence, that their loved one may do something terrible and get them help. (Let’s do the same with the homeless if they don’t take a shelter bed). Lock them up if needed. Let’s not take away the rights of tens of millions of gun owners because SOCIETY creates monsters. Also, there are mass killings in other countries carried out with bow and arrow, knives, cars etc, no one talks about limits on those. Limiting future gun sales to prevent mass shootings is like pouring a bottle of water on a car fire HOPING, JUST HOPING it will help although we all know it won’t.

“…and enough ammunition to defeat any attempt by the government to take them away”. Have you seen the US military’s arsenal? “ Let’s limit video game violence, movie violence, TV violence etc.” Seems that that might become a 1A issue. Are you in favor of limiting the jokes comedians can tell? Lock up the homeless? We’re going to need to use lots of tax money to accommodate that wish. Not sure what homeless have to do with mass shootings.

TP, Marshall is wondering how much you know about the US military arsenal. And that 1A issue, was that your draft status?

Festus, TP is wondering if you and Marshall met as outpatients in the head trauma ward.

No, I met Matthew when he helped us track down and arrest my ornery uncle Black Jack. He left my brother Fergus out on the trail to die. Back then we turned no good family members over to the authorities.

It's closer to 400 million. But that's a lame excuse to not regulate gun ownership with sensible background checks, red flag laws and restrictions on certain types of firearms, accessories and ammunition. We need comprehensive bipartisan legislation that addresses gun law, school safety strategies, parental responsibilities and mental health issues.

Government and the career people attracted to it, does not... by its and their very nature...trust an armed public or individual. Not even those it licenses and trains to do so. Why then should we rely on or trust THEM to "regulate" and "background check" US for something they are TERRIFIED of us possessing... Namely POWER ? I went through the process of purchase TWICE in the same year a few years ago just to experience it in current form. It is a MORE than adequate process when carried out competently, which it was. The defect in "stopping mass shootings" lies somewhere OTHER than the current process of purchase, registration and the extant "waiting period" which is a stated infringement violation codified in the Constitution yet dismissed as a mere "inconvenience"... Which EXACTLY describes an illegal "infringement". Neither the governments nor your personal fear is a legal or justified limit to my or anyones stated, codified right. And maintaining expensive fees, administations and burdening private business to carry it out without remuneration for the service DEFINITELY violates public rights at our own expense. I'll hear no more of this "chicken coop chatter" on "sensible" checks or laws that empowers government to violate my rights.

DW: Your premise is incorrect. We are not an autocracy…yet.

Mr. P, what restrictions on certain types of firearms would you propose? As for accessories, which ones are we talking about? Things like bump stocks and high capacity magazines? I think that's reasonable, but what do we define as high capacity? What restrictions on ammo? Here in California we have ammo restrictions for hunting, but other than that what kind of restrictions? I could see restrictions on armor piercing ammo, but other than that?

JAT, I believe Universal Background checks (including shows and private sales) and raising the age limit to 21 for all firearms is a good place to start. I think 10 rounds is reasonable for capacity. As far as type of firearms I'll have to concede to others. I'm not a gun guy. I enjoy target shooting. I've done a little skeet shooting and it was a blast. I really don't know much about what's out there. There's never been an incident in my 67 years where I wished I had had a firearm for protection. The only gun I've ever owned was a nice airsoft gun that I used to chase pigeons off. Then I realized that the sound of the co2 cartridge scared them off better than actually hitting them with the pellet. One day I hit one square in the chest and he just looked at my like, "that's all you got?"

Mr.P: Well said. “Taking guns away” is a red herring.

How can we focus on mental health when resources for mental health services are cut? In Texas, Gov. Abbott cut $211 million from the department that oversees mental health services for the state last month.

Dylan, that's why we need it addressed at the federal level. States rights only work as far as states doing the responsible thing.

No... You are wrong. There is no government level that can address this other than military. The problem lies with you, your party affiliation, your associate enablers and your poor life choices. You empowered the party that stages and directs these made-for-media shooting events.

DW, I have no party affiliation. My vision is clearer than yours. And I don't have a screw loose.

MP... No it isn't, and YES you DO... As evidenced by your narcissistic baiting of those who tell you you're wrong.

Nice try Dylan. Here are the facts: "The latest cash infusion will be carved from the budgets of other state agencies, according to a letter from Abbott's office. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission — which oversees the Women, Infants, and Children, Children's Medicaid and food stamp programs — will face the biggest cut at $211 million over two fiscal years.".................... And why is that money being cut from this and other Texas state agency budgets? Well, Abbott has prioritized trying to stave off the huge influx of undocumented, unvaccinated, untested illegal immigrants because the Brandon Administration has in essence, opened the borders. Texas is trying to do the job that President Brandon refuses to do.

D1973: The federal government should tax guns and ammunition and provide 75% matching funds to states and create the world’s best metal health system integrated with rapid response red flag laws. Call it the “Second Amendment” tax.

So, suppression of firearms from law abiding low income people? Make sure they can vote, but to hell with them protecting themselves? Not very democrat of you, Stooge. LOL

TOI... It's typical post Civil War, Reconstruction Era democrat punitive legislation. Weaponized taxes, laws, infringements, political terrorism... All amounting to a reimposition of psuedo-slavery by recalcitrant losers.

There are somewhat simple things that can be done to help protect schoolchildren and it doesn’t include more gun laws that will be completely ignored by criminals. We need armed personnel on all school campuses including teachers, administrators and possibly even volunteers. Next step is to issue a lot more concealed carry permits. As has been said before, an armed society is a polite society.

As a final note, Thompson opines "We must do everything we can to help the Ukranian people..." No... You Thompson must do everything to help YOUR constituents... Not those in a foreign land. Especially not those who aid and abet the Azov Nazis or are Azovs themselves. You are a California Assemblyman.. NOT a diplomat assigned to a foreign bureau. The Russian enclave in Sacramento is itself divided on this issue because Azov Nazis dwell among them due in great part to democrats who allowed them here unchecked. I look forward to the end of democrats and their criminal syndicate masquerading as an American political party.

Thompson is a US Congressman from California.

I stand corrected... Thompson US Congressman. Admonishments adjusted to also stand...

Less than an hour ago I had to pull out one of my scary "assault weapons" and put two 5.56 rounds into a fox that was threatening my poultry children. Not really surprisingly to me, the gun did not get anxious and try to go out on it's own and keep shooting. The only collateral damage was to the bedroom window screen that now has two holes in it.

Two 5.56 rounds to kill a fox? Best get out to the range to practice your marksmanship.

Center mass buddy, center mass. Second shot in the head. I have yet to see targets at the range run back and forth and when chickens are screaming like crazy fox's tend to run around like crazy. I have my own range in my front yard, we sit on the porch and shoot from there.

Funny. I had a trail cam out at my Quail coup. Fox came around several nights, never could figured how to get in. Fox finally gave up. I guess I just built my coup predator proof.