DrVino wrote Senator Feinstein to voice his opposition to gun control. Ms. Feinstein wrote back. I republish her entirely predictable response here to remind The People of the Gun that politicians pay lip service to that which they would destroy: Americans’ natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. Like rust, the antis’ commitment to gun control never sleeps.
Dear XXXXXX:
Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to gun control. I respect your opinion on this issue, and I welcome the opportunity to provide my perspective.
I support an individual’s Second Amendment right to own a gun. I recognize that there are many law-abiding gun owners who use guns in a safe manner for activities such as hunting, sport, or self-defense.
Nonetheless . . .
the problem of gun violence in this country is a serious one, as demonstrated by recent mass shootings. On December 14, 2012, a gunman massacred 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Earlier that year, on July 20, 2012, a gunman killed 12 and injured 58 at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. These shootings came one year after Representative Gabrielle Giffords was injured and six others killed when a gunman opened fire at a shopping center outside Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2011. These are only a few examples of the mass shootings that have become all too common in our country. They underscore the need to impose common-sense measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, unsupervised children, and the seriously mentally ill.
I recognize that many factors contribute to gun violence, including mental illness and the depiction of gratuitous violence in the media. That is why I have supported laws that expand access to mental health care by prohibiting insurance companies and Medicare from charging excessive co-pays for such treatments, as well as federal research programs designed to improve our understanding of, and identify new treatments for, a variety of mental illnesses. I also support the video game industry’s voluntary efforts to institute a ratings system for video games that contain explicit or violent material. This system is important because it gives parents the information they need to monitor the content of games and allows them to make more informed decisions about whether their children are being improperly influenced. At the same time, we cannot overlook the significant role that easy access to guns plays in the high levels of gun violence in the United States.
It is helpful for me to hear your perspective on this issue, and I will be mindful of your thoughts as the debate on gun safety legislation continues. I hope you will continue to keep me informed on issues of importance to you. If you have any additional comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the nation are available at my website, feinstein.senate.gov. And please visit my YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for more ways to communicate with me.