California Town Hall Provides Glimpse At The Future Of The Gun Control Debate

Forum on gun laws held on Jan. 8, 2012 in Napa, Calif., by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA).
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Advocates on both sides of the gun control debate are prepared to make a lot of noise about the future of gun regulations in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. shooting. That’s the message from the first of House Democratic gun violence pointman Mike Thompson’s violence-focused town halls this week.

On Tuesday night, Thompson hosted the first of three gun violence town halls in his northern California district. As they vowed to do, gun control opponents showed up in force to make their case against new regulations. But, according to local reports of the meeting, they were met with equally impassioned gun control proponents. It’s a preview of what might happen after the White House and Thompson reveal their post-Newtown legislative proposals: opposition to gun control is likely to be met by vocal support for new gun regulations that is just as loud.

The Napa Valley Register reported before the event started “55 people had signed up to speak, and the forum ran over its allotted time of an hour and a half.” Other reporters on the ground noted an overflow crowd of 200 spilled into the hallways.

The last time crowds like that showed up to talk about a contentious issue with a congressman was during the health care fight, when members — including Thompson — were shouted down by the nascent tea party. This time, the reported tone was more respectful, and it wasn’t just conservatives doing the talking.

KGO-TV reported the atmosphere was “tense” but noted that both sides spoke at length at the town hall.

“It’s not the guns that kill people,” an area firearms instructor said, according to the Register. “A magazine has never killed anybody either. If you’re mentally ill and you’re going to kill somebody, you’re going to kill somebody.”

Sentiments like that were met with passionate rebuttals.

“I know I’m going to get booed, but when I listen to the leadership of the NRA saying we need more guns in the schools, I could vomit,” a local woman said, according to KGO.

Thompson has two more gun violence town halls to go back home before he returns to Washington and begins setting up hearings on the problem that could come near the end of the month. Those meetings are likely to draw a public eager to talk about guns — but if the the Napa town hall is any indication, it will be both sides that show up with fire in their bellies after Newtown.

Here’s KGO’s report on the Napa meeting:

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