Rep. Mike Thompson, pushing for gun control, to host Sacramento forum Monday

In the wake of mass shootings in Southern California and Colorado, North Coast Rep. Mike Thompson has stepped up his focus on gun control.

The Democratic lawmaker, who will host a forum on gun violence Monday in Sacramento, is pushing legislation that would deny people on the federal government’s “Terrorist Watch List” from purchasing firearms.

The legislation faces opposition from civil libertarians and from some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle over concerns the watch list is overly broad and secretive by nature.

Thompson, D-St. Helena, was traveling back to California on Friday and unavailable for comment, according to a spokesman.

Thompson has claimed that more than 2,000 suspected terrorists have legally purchased firearms in the United States since 2004. He said the so-called Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 would prevent such weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

In a Dec. 7 speech before the House, Thompson challenged Republican lawmakers to sign a discharge petition that would force a vote on the bill.

“If you agree that terrorists shouldn’t be able to have guns, then put your name down in writing and let’s have a vote,” he said.

Thompson, who touts his own gun ownership, long has sought tighter controls on firearms, including seeking expanded background checks for gun buyers in the wake of the December 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Connecticut on Thursday moved closer to banning people on federal terrorism watch lists from purchasing firearms in the state after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced his intention to sign an executive order implementing the ban.

More recently, Thompson, who chairs a House task force on preventing gun violence, also has called for the lifting of a ban that prevents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from carrying out research on the subject.

Monday’s forum in Sacramento includes survivors of gun violence, gun owners and gun dealers, mental health experts, law enforcement officials and a former gang member. Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane also is on the panel.

The stated goal of the forum is to highlight policies that could reduce gun violence.

The event is from 9:30 a.m. to noon in room 4202 at the state Capitol.

You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @deadlinederek.