Congressman Bennie Thompson Talks With Us About His Views On Gun Control

JACKSON, Miss. -- Congressman Thompson made it clear up front, he is a gun owner. “I’m a hunter.” But he said he doesn’t need an assault rifle or a 30 round clip to hunt deer. “So what we have to do is to say maybe we have taken the second amendment to bear arms too far.”

Thompson said there are some weapons designed for war and should only be used there. “The things that occurred in Connecticut and Colorado and other places, those weapons have no place in a civilized society.”

He said any legislation enacted should both protect your communities and your right as a law-abiding citizen to own a gun. “But our weapons are shotguns and rifles that we grew up with.”

Thompson has been named vice chairman of the congressional task force looking at ways to reduce and prevent gun violence.

The group is expected to release a comprehensive set of policy proposals early next month.

Congressman Bennie Thompson Talks With us About His Views on Gun Control