NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A local member of Congress will host a special public forum on gun violence prevention in Napa on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) will lead the forum from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Napa City Hall, 955 School St.

Last month, in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting that claimed the lives of 20 children and six teachers and administrators, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced that Thompson would lead a task force to investigate new steps Congress can take to reduce gun violence and prevent massacres like the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Thompson is a Vietnam veteran, hunter, gun owner and former chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.

The forum will bring together law enforcement officials, mental health experts, school officials, elected officials and community members for a comprehensive discussion on the steps that must be taken to reduce and prevent gun violence.

Thompson represents a portion of Lake and all or parts of Contra Costa, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties in the U.S. House of Representatives.