On Wednesday night, U.S. Members of Congress Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) and Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) held a joint Town Hall in Antioch where residents were they were able to provide an update on what they were working on while answering a variety of questions from constituents.
Rep. McNerney discussed the California Delta and how he was fighting to protect it saying that Governor Jerry Brown’s plan must be stopped. He called it a great resource that is at risk.
McNerney noted that the Governor’s plan does not create an ounce of new water.
Both McNerney and DeSaulnier said they were united in fighting to protect the Delta and instead were in favor of creating water storage throughout the state.
Rep. DeSaulnier spoke briefly about the need to get young people more engaged in politics while the economic recovery is happening, there is a need for better paying jobs to further that recovery. He stated the middle class is vital in any recovery because if the middle class has disposable income, they can help stimulate the economy. If there is no additional income, people are not going to out to eat or spending money.
Both members of congress fielded a variety of questions from constituents which ranged from veterans services, cost of living, police abuse, firearms, mental health, climate change, and a variety of other issues.
With regards to the question on gun violence and what congress plan to do about it, McNerney stated that the 2nd Amendment is part of our heritage and the Constitution. He said he was a gun owner and that no one he knows of wants to overturn the second amendment regardless of what the media may portray.
“We have a problem with gun violence in this country, it’s obvious and we need to do something about it,” said McNerney. “The most clear and direct thing we can do is background checks to make sure that folks who should not have access to guns have access to guns. If someone has a restraining order due to violence, that person should not have a gun.”
McNerney further highlighted that mental health was also an issue and that those with mental health issues do not have access to guns.
DeSaulnier stated he agreed with McNerney and stated that 83% of the public agrees that there should be background checks on gun owners. DeSaulnier stated that for law abiding citizens who want to have guns it should not be an issue, but background checks could prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands if it was preventable.
The event was held at Antioch Middle School.
