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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5), chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, lauded President Barack Obama’s executive actions to help prevent gun violence by expanding criminal background checks.
“Thirty-plus people are killed every day by someone using a gun, and the actions taken today by President Obama will help save some of those lives. I applaud this move and thank him for his relentless work on the issue of gun violence,” Thompson said.
Thompson had returned to Washington over the weekend in order to meet with Obama on Monday to discuss the proposed measures.
The executive actions announced Monday eliminate the ambiguity surrounding the term: “engaged in the business” as it pertains to federally licensed firearms dealers.
Under current law, only licensed gun dealers are required to perform background checks for all gun sales, and only those individuals deemed to be "engaged in the business" of dealing in guns are required to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The executive actions clarify the term to state that anyone making a profit from the sale of guns, regularly making gun sales, and/or earning their livelihood from gun sales is “engaged in the business” and therefore must obtain a license and conduct criminal background checks, even if at a gun show or over the Internet.
“Make no mistake, the president’s executive actions will make our country safer by helping keep guns out of dangerous hands. And, they will only impact those who we all agree shouldn’t have guns: criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill,” Thompson said.
“Because of the president’s actions, more people will have to get background checks, and that’s a good thing – but it doesn’t let Congress off the hook. Many firearms can still be bought and sold at gun shows, over the Internet or through classified ads with no questions asked. This allows dangerous people, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to pass a background check, to get guns,” he said.
Thompson sent a letter signed by 114 of his colleagues to the White House in November 2015 urging the president to close the background check loophole through executive action.
In March 2015 a coalition of U.S. House members introduced H.R. 1217, the bipartisan King-Thompson background check legislation, officially known as the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2015.
The bill, authored by Thompson and Pete King (R-NY), expands the existing background check system to cover all commercial firearm sales, including those at gun shows, over the Internet or in classified ads while providing reasonable exceptions for family and friend transfers.
The King-Thompson bill was co-authored by Reps. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Pat Meehan (R-PA), Bob Dold (R-IL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Kathleen Rice (D-NY).
Under the legislation, the current background check system would be expanded to require comprehensive and enforceable background checks on all commercial gun sales, such as those made at gun shows, over the Internet or through classified ads.
Studies show that every day where background checks are used, the system stops more than 170 felons, some 50 domestic abusers, and nearly 20 fugitives from buying a gun.
However, no system is in place to prevent these same prohibited purchasers from buying identical guns at a gun show, over the Internet, or through a newspaper ad with no questions asked because background checks are not required for these kinds of sales. The King-Thompson bill closes these loopholes.
“We need to pass the bipartisan King-Thompson legislation that closes these remaining loopholes so criminals, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill don’t have easy access to guns,” Thompson said. “The president has done his part, now Congress needs to do ours. Let’s finish the job.”
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – State Sen. Mike McGuire joined a bipartisan coalition of state senators, including Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, on Monday morning introducing the “No Place Like Home” initiative, which will greatly assist communities across the state in tackling homelessness.
The news about the new effort on the state level arrived on the same day as a temporary warming center for the homeless was set to open at the Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church: www.bit.ly/1mF9RLh .
“Homelessness, especially the lack of resources for housing and services, is a growing crisis across California. Whether it’s downtown LA on Skid Row, or downtown Eureka, local communities are lacking the funding they need to implement the housing programs and services local communities need and rely on,” McGuire said. “In many of the communities of the North Coast, there is a crisis every day, with little or no resources to turn to.”
The multi-pronged initiative would provide both immediate and long-term resources for chronically homeless individuals and families. “No Place Like Home” is a budget proposal that will go through the legislative process for approval.
The $2 billion revenue bond would be paid partially from Prop. 63 Mental Health Services Account (MHSA) funds.
Prop 63 would be amended to set aside just $135 million – only 7 percent of its annual revenue – to pay off the $2 billion revenue bond.
During press conferences announcing the innovative proposal, Sen. McGuire addressed the inconsistencies in state support of homeless services, including grant funding for transitional and emergency housing in communities along the North Bay and North Coast.
“Mendocino County, as an example, has the second highest rate of homelessness in America, according to National Alliance to End Homelessness, yet over the last two years, no state dollars have been invested in Mendocino County, or any county north of Sonoma for that matter to help some of our state’s poorest communities provide desperately needed emergency shelter space to the thousands who live on the streets of the North Coast,” McGuire said. “And to make matters worse, county jails and local emergency rooms have been the only resource many communities have to house those who are homeless and who struggle with mental illness and this is totally unacceptable.”
McGuire also announced that he will host a Summit on Homeless Services in Northern California this spring to coordinate with counties and local nonprofits that serve the homeless community as “No Place Like Home” moves through the legislative process. More details on the summit will be available later this month.
“No Place Like Home” was officially outlined Monday morning by a bipartisan coalition of state senators, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon.
The state leaders said, this year, the Senate is focused on policies that lift up all Californians, especially the least fortunate and most vulnerable among us.
While housing and mental health services are governed by local governments, the State Legislature will directly focus on providing assistance to better manage existing resources and assist local governments through incentives for creating and maintaining permanent housing essential to reducing homelessness.
With this budget proposal, the state will now secure progress on tackling homelessness through an unprecedented amount of funding support and expansion of programs to make services more accessible on the ground.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With heavy rain in the forecast, the National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a flash flood watch for the Valley, Rocky and Jerusalem fire burn areas in Lake County.
The alert will be in effect from 10 p.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Flash floods and debris flows will be a particular threat in the burn areas. Rainfall rates could exceed one half inch per hour at times during the storm, according to the forecast.
Those traveling around Highway 175, Highway 20, Highway 16, Bottle Rock Road, Loch Lomond Road, Seigler Canyon Road, Big Canyon Road, Butts Canyon Road, Morgan Valley, Berryessa-Knoxville Road, Jerusalem Grade and other roads within and in close proximity to the burn area should be alert for road problems due to flooding or rock/debris flows.
Rivers and creeks of particular concern include Anderson Creek, Big Canyon Creek, Seigler Creek, Dry Creek, Harbin Creek, Putah Creek, Butts Creek, Copsey Creek, Seigler Creek and Kelsey Creek basins.
The severely burned areas of particular concern include the Rocky, Davis, Cache, Bear, Soda, Hunting, Eticuera and Jericho Creek basins, officials reporter. Users of the Cache Creek Wildlife Area and the Knoxville Recreation Area should be alert for flooding, rock and debris flows.
Officials said this could quickly become a dangerous situation. Hunters, residents, and persons traveling within the Valley, Rocky, and Jerusalem burn areas should remain alert and take action should heavy rain develop.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Redwood Valley man was arrested late last month after he led Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies on a chase in a truck stolen from Lake County.
Ben Brooks, 34, was arrested on Dec. 23, according to a report from Capt. Greg Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
At 11 p.m. Dec. 23 Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies observed a white Ford Ranger pickup with a partially obscured license plate on Branscomb Road near the intersection of Willis Avenue in Laytonville, Van Patten said.
Van Patten said the deputies attempted a traffic stop for the equipment violation but the driver accelerated dramatically and fled southbound on Highway 101.
The deputies pursued the pickup truck through rainy weather at speeds between 80 and 90 miles per hour with emergency lights and sirens activated, Van Patten said.
At approximately MPM 61.53 on Highway 101, the driver lost control of the pickup truck, causing it to careen up a hillside, spin in several tight circles and finally flip over onto its roof in the center of Highway 101, according to Van Patten.
Van Patten said the driver, later identified as Brooks, emerged from a window and fled on foot, resulting in an extensive search that failed to locate him.
Deputies subsequently discovered the pickup truck had been reported stolen from Lake County, Van Patten said.
The following day, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a resident in the 35000 block of North Highway 101 discovered Brooks hiding in a storage shed and called law enforcement, Van Patten said.
He said deputies responded and arrested Brooks on charges related to the stolen vehicle and the vehicle pursuit, as well as a Mendocino County arrest warrant.
Brooks suffered significant injuries in the traffic accident the previous night and was transported to a local hospital for treatment, Van Patten said.
Van Patten said that on Dec. 27 Brooks was medically cleared for incarceration and was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $120,000 bail.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a new group of cats cleared and ready to head to new homes for the new year.
The four females and two males include a mixes of young and adult cats.
In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Domestic long hair mix
This young female domestic long hair mix has a gray and white fluffy coat.
She's in cat room kennel No. 4, ID No. 4180.
'Chedder'
“Chedder' is a female domestic short hair mix.
She has a short black and white coat with a cool mask.
She's in cat room kennel No. 28, ID No. 4216.
'Mike'
“Mike” is an adult male Abyssinian mix.
He has a very sharp-looking short gray tabby coat.
Mike is in cat room kennel No. 52, ID No. 4212.
Domestic short hair mix
This male domestic short hair mix has a gray tabby coat.
He's in cat room kennel No. 98a, ID No. 4222.
Female Siamese mix
This female adult Siamese mix has a white coat with gray markings and blue eyes.
She's in cat room kennel No. 98b, ID No. 4223.
'Muffin'
“Muffin” is an adult domestic short hair mix with a gray and brown tabby coat.
She already was spayed when she arrived at the shelter, so her adoption fee will be lower.
She is in cat room kennel No. 144, ID No. 4153.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission this week will hold another workshop on the city's general plan update.
The commission will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
On the agenda is the orientation and status of the 2040 Clearlake General Plan, plus a general plan update workshop that will look at the various document elements – land use, circulation, noise, safety, conservation and economic development.
There also will be time for questions and answers, and a summary of next steps, questions and comments.
Email Elizabeth Larson at