PA Senator Bob Casey Supports the Second Amendment But . . .

Here’s my non-response from Colorado’s Sen. Udall:

Thank you for contacting me regarding Second Amendment rights. I appreciate that you took the time to write on this important topic.

Responsible gun ownership is an integral part of our Western heritage. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides for an individual right, and I am dedicated to protecting the rights of citizens to own firearms for personal protection, hunting, collecting or for other legal purposes.

We can all agree that the shootings at Columbine High School and Virginia Tech, and in Aurora; Tucson, AZ; Newtown, CT; and other instances in which terrible crimes have been committed with guns are national tragedies that should concern us all. No single policy is going to be adequate in preventing gun tragedies in the future. We need comprehensive solutions that examine our culture’s glorification of violence, the effectiveness of our laws, our ability to enforce those laws and access to firearms, especially those designed for the battlefield. We must do everything we can – consistent with the Second Amendment – to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals, the mentally ill and those who would turn them against their community. As legislation related to Second Amendment rights is debated, I will carefully examine its intentions and impacts and use your thoughts to help guide me.

I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not merely about supporting or opposing legislation, but also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation’s politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at http://www.markudall.senate.gov.

Warm regards,

Mark Udall
U.S. Senator, Colorado

I hope he was planning to find another job after his time is up in his current position.

Some of the adults at Sandy Hook tried gallantly and desperately to savwe the lives of the children. And because these same adults were unarmed they, and the kids under their protection, were doomed.

None of the laws currently being proposed by the anti’s will have any effect on the next Lanza. If you’re not proposing guns on campus in the hands of trusted people you’re part of the problem and making it easier for the next Lanza.

“weapons of war”
“originally developed for warfare”
“battlefield”
“military style”

The narrative is set, the talking points have been handed out, and the disarmament supporters are cranking up the noise machine.

Why you even post this the new was spitting this all over over three weeks ago. I never trusted him and its time to nail him in the next election. But not all Dems are jumping with Obama on the gun ban wagon. Sen Heldkamp and other say his agenda is way too extreme. Even Joe Mancin from W VA has stepped away from the pro ban statements he made just after the crime He now says he supports no ban. Any way a GOP house will kill it thought. Keep the pressure up!!!!!

At least that was a better response then I received from Senator Dick Durbin from IL. I sent my email last week and this is the boiler plate response I received:

Dear XXXXX,
Thank you for contacting me about an amendment to the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 (S. 3414) to prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

On July 25, 2012, Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey introduced this amendment. A large capacity ammunition feeding device is defined as any magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that has the capacity to include 10 rounds of ammunition, excluding .22 caliber rim fire ammunition. The amendment also would require any capacity feeding device manufactured after the date of the enactment to be identified by a serial number indicating when it was manufactured.

Americans are entitled to own and use guns in a responsible manner. Strong penalties for violent crimes involving firearms should be part of an effort to reduce gun violence. Throughout my time in Congress, I have supported a variety of strong crime control initiatives and efforts to combat the illegal possession and use of firearms.

Although, we may disagree on this issue, I appreciate having your views and hope that you will not hesitate to contact me in the future on matters of importance to you.

Thank you again for your message. Please feel free to keep in touch.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

I always thought the “Weapons that were originally designed for War are not appropriate for civilians.” line was particularly absurd. I challenge you to point to a weapon that was NOT designed for war.

What we think of today as a “Hunting Rifle” is a direct copy of the mainline battle rifles of WWI & WWII. For example: Rem 700, Ruger 77, Browning A-bolt etc are all basically Mauser actions. The same Mauser that was (and still is) one of the most commonly used military rifles ever.

What a weasel. Like many in PA, uninformed and stupid.

‘DOJ: 95% Drop in Youth Victimized by Guns; 6x More Likely to be Victimized by Knife; Children of Unmarried 3.8x More Likely To Be Victims’

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/doj-95-drop-youth-victimized-guns-6x-more-likely-be-victimized-knife-children-unmarried

— 600% greater risk for youths to be victimized (not just accidentally cut) with a knife. ‘Children of Unmarried’ is code speak for kids raised by single moms 380% more likely to be victims than kids being raised by two married parents. Gee, where have I heard stuff like this before????

Gotta love the “certain weapons and technology originally developed for warfare.” Uhhhhh where does he think weapons technology comes from? Wood peckers?

“According to reports, the shooter was able to kill many children and adults very quickly because he possessed a military-style semiautomatic weapon.”

Having 20 minutes to commit the crime helps as well. It’s been mentioned time and again here before, he could have killed as many as he did with a revolver or other ‘low capacity’ weapon when you have 20 minutes to do it. I’m not knocking on the police here, because I have no idea why the response time was 20 minutes. You do, however, have to look at the totality of the circumstances and admit that the response time helped Lanza achieve the number of deaths that he caused.

That is the EXACT same form letter I got from Sen. Casey in responce to my letter to him. I wasn’t surprised at his position, as he has been a liberal loyal Democrat thru out his career.

I’m waiting to see what sort of response I get from Inhofe and Coburn here in Oklahoma. I really don’t expect either of them to say anything other then that they’ll fight tooth and nail to prevent any new bills from ever seeing the light of day.

The response I received from Joe Courtney was about the same in CT – except he actually cited DC vs. Heller to bolster his case:

Thank you for contacting me regarding gun legislation in light of the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. I appreciate your comments and having the benefit of your views.

I am deeply saddened by the loss of over two dozen lives, including the lives of 20 young children, in this senseless act. In the days since the attack, we have heard the powerful stories about Principal Dawn Hochsprung and the brave teachers that acted selflessly to protect their students. This senseless tragedy has touched all Americans and has once again raised concerns about the issues of gun safety here in America.

Let me be clear, I am committed to protecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible, law-abiding gun owners. I also believe that there are many areas where we can find agreement on commonsense approaches to improving gun safety laws in our country. In the days following the shootings in Newtown, I have been contacted by many people on this issue – including gun owners who support ways to improve gun safety for our communities.

While I appreciate the concerns that you and others have expressed with any changes to our nation’s gun laws, it should be noted that even in upholding the constitutional rights of responsible gun owners the United States Supreme Court has also upheld the ability of our government to place restrictions on the use and sale of firearm. For example, in his majority opinion in the District of Columbia v. Dick Heller case, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia emphasized the following:

“Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited… nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.”

The majority opinion in the case, which supported the right of individuals in the District of Columbia to be able to keep firearms in their homes, also reaffirmed the right to restrict the purchase and sale of dangerous and unusual weapons.

As you are aware, a number of legislative proposals are being considered that address the issue of gun safety. The scope of these bills varies from rules regarding purchase of guns and ammunition over the internet to the ability of individuals to purchase large magazines capable of holding multiple munitions, among other proposals. In addition, the Obama Administration – led by Vice President Joe Biden – has convened an inter-agency task force to determine how the federal government can improve gun safety.

In the days and weeks ahead, we must commit ourselves to strive for a better nation and never forget these innocent souls. The best way to honor the memory of those who senselessly lost their lives in Sandy Hook is to make it harder for this to ever happen again.

As President Obama so eloquently stated Sunday night, the test of a nation’s values is whether we protect our children from this unspeakable violence. I stand ready to work with him to create a stronger system of public safety and mental healthcare.

Again, thank you for sharing your views on this issue with me. Should you have any additional comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Casey’s last major legislative effort was to try and foist off on the US taxpayer liability for the (somehow unsurprising) shortfall in the Teamsters’ Central States Pension Fund. I think he’s made yet another impolitic choice. Time will tell. He’s also (according to a letter I received) fine with uncontrolled illegal Mexican labor, so long as it helps “small businesses” keep their margins up. Apparently he’s trying to turn Pennsylvania into Chicago.

Here’s an excerpt of Manchin’s about face from WV MetroNews:

The Senator’s comments earned him praise from many circles, especially liberal ones, but also produced howls of protest from conservative gun owners in his home state, of which there are tens of thousands.

“So the election’s over and the REAL Joe Manchin is coming out,” wrote one e-mailer. “If Manchin doesn’t know the people who own semi-automatic firearms, then he doesn’t know his constituents,” wrote another.

By Wednesday, Manchin was walking back his comments. On Talkline, he heaped praise on the NRA, said he opposed a renewal of the 1994 assault weapons ban, and indicated he had problems with Senator Diane Feinstein’s proposed gun control legislation.

What changed?

Manchin says nothing changed, although he did admit to being more “articulate” about his position on Wednesday than Monday. And he added that his goal all along has been to have a national dialog about all the contributors to gun violence.

“I’m not supporting a ban on anything,” Manchin told me. “I’m supporting a conversation on everything.”

I suspect Manchin did get stung by the negative reaction and is now trying to move back to a safer position. During his days as Governor, that would have been easy enough. He used the force of his personality to tamp down most controversies and missteps.

The entire story is here: http://wvmetronews.com/manchin-walks-back-gun-comments/

Whatever they say in their form letters, they’ll be reluctant to vote for bad legislation if they keep getting reminded that their jobs depend on complying with the intent of the voters.

Neither of my Senators or my representative in MD bothered to email me back which is depressing. I hate this state.

Mary Landrieu’s non-response:

Dear Xxxxxx:

My prayers and greatest sympathy go out to the families and community of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, and to all families that have been affected by gun violence. On December 14, 2012, twenty-seven innocent lives were taken from us in a heartbreaking tragedy. As the nation grieves over this senseless act of violence, it is more important than ever that we come together to address the issues affecting American communities.

The Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the rights of all Americans to own and possess guns. While preserving the rights of honest gun collectors, sportsmen and owners who possess firearms for traditionally lawful purposes, we must also continue to ensure that we protect innocent unarmed citizens. I am sure you can agree – like any right guaranteed to a free people, the right to bear arms must be exercised responsibly.

Unfortunately, in the past year, we have seen instances where this right has been abused in tragic fashion. The theater shooting in Aurora, CO, the Sikh temple shooting in Oak Creek, WI, and the school shooting in Newtown, CT, were terrible and unnecessary tragedies. Occurrences such as these remind me of the important role that government plays in upholding statutes that aim to limit such tragedies.

We must do more to target the causes of mental illness and determine the most effective ways to treat it. I support and will continue to strongly advocate for expanded and improved mental health coverage so that the mentally ill can obtain adequate treatment to not only overcome their struggles, but to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.

I also support strict adherence of federally licensed firearms dealers to the requirements laid out in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The NICS determines the eligibility of an individual to purchase a firearm and explicitly prohibits those who have been legally determined to be mentally ill or committed to a mental institution from purchasing any weapons.

Currently, there is no gun control legislation scheduled for a vote. However, I believe that when evaluating future proposals, we must find a balanced way to address the safety of American citizens while ensuring Second Amendment rights granted under the Constitution. Please be assured that I value your input and will keep it in mind as we continue to address this issue in the 113th Congress.

I appreciate hearing from you on this matter, and I trust that you will continue to contact me on matters of mutual concern. Please feel free to visit my website at http://landrieu.senate.gov for more information on my legislative priorities.

With warm regards, I am

Sincerely,

Mary Landrieu
United States Senator

I got the same sort of “but…” responses to my letters.

They cant even take a firm position with a constituent who obviously wants them to anymore out of fear of the response going viral so every single communication whether written or face to face is going to be a pointless blast of politiking.

I dont know how these people can have any sort of conversations with their friends or families.

Two boilerplate responses from Oregon representatives, clearly ignoring the fact that I contacted them from the Pro-2A side of the argument:

Dear XXXX,

Thank you for contacting me about gun violence and the need to reform
gun laws. I appreciate hearing from you.

Unfortunately, the recent tragic shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin
only added to a long list of gun crimes committed in this country each
day. These glaring examples remind us how much remains to be done to
keep guns out of the hands of those who would inflict harm while
respecting the Second Amendment. Please know that I will keep your
input in mind as Congress considers proposals to reform gun laws,
including proposals to close the gun show loophole and ban assault
weapons. We also need to work on prevention by making mental health
care more accessible.

Thank you again for writing to me. If you would like to know more
about my work in Congress, please sign up for my newsletter at
http://bonamici.house.gov or visit my Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/CongresswomanBonamici.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Bonamici
Member of Congress

Dear XXXX,

Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts about events that have
recently occurred in Oregon and Connecticut. I have heard from many
Oregonians who have shared their thoughts and prayers as we process,
both individually and as a nation, what happened and try to heal.

I am deeply saddened by these senseless shootings and the loss of
innocent lives. As a parent, I was horrified to learn of these
heartbreaking events, and I am at a loss to make sense of it all.
Mary and I are holding in our thoughts and prayers the victims, their
loved ones, the communities, and all who have been affected by these
terrible acts of violence.

The tragedy in Newtown affirms that, as a country, we must no longer
accept complacency or the unwillingness to discuss gun violence.
Massacres like this have occurred all too often across this country.
They raise questions that need thorough examination, including the
types of weapons and ammunition, the securing of weapons in the home,
the application of background checks, and the accessibility of
treatment for mental illness.

I fully support President Obama’s call to action to prevent these
tragedies from continuing to happen. Furthermore, I plan to work with
my colleagues in Congress and engage in productive dialogue to answer
the question of what strategies can effectively address the epidemic
of gun violence.

Please know that I will keep your views and the memory of the lives
lost due to gun violence in mind during these discussions.

Thank you for participating in this national dialogue. I hope you
will continue to send your thoughts and observations my way.

All my best,

Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator

People had to be RUNG into that school. It’s exactly the same as at my grandson’s school, at schools all across this once-great land of ours. I mean theirs.

SOMEONE RANG HIM IN; it’s as simple as that. That all there is to it. A wacko-looking kid with body armor, a mask and an AR… er, I mean two handguns. The present story.

I’m SICK of “buts”. I’m sick of HIS butt. Someone should kick HIS butt. Jackass.

The response I received from NC Senator Kay Hagan (D)

Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the horrific tragedy that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue, and my thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and families of this senseless and appalling act of violence.

In the wake of the shooting in Newtown, which left twenty-six innocent members of the community dead, many of them young children, Americans across the country are searching for answers on how we can prevent such tragic events from happening in the future. I believe we must do all we can to put laws and policies in place to prevent future tragedies such as this one. Doing that will require a common-sense debate on a comprehensive approach that examines all relevant issues, including access to firearms, mental healthcare, and the prevalence of violence in video games and media. Additionally, Senator Feinstein has stated her intent to introduce legislation concerning access to firearms at the start of the 113th Congress. To date, that legislation has not been introduced. As always, it is important that we not unnecessarily infringe on the legitimate Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners.

Like you, I have always been an advocate for Second Amendment rights. My family, like the great state of North Carolina, has a long tradition of hunting and gun ownership, and I take great pride in that heritage. During my tenure in the North Carolina Senate I continuously supported the responsible use of firearms. As your United States Senator, I will always be committed to protecting these fundamental, constitutional rights.

Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is truly an honor to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me in the future should you have any further questions or concerns. If you would like to stay informed on my work in the Senate, you can sign up for my e-newsletter, follow me on Twitter at @SenatorHagan, or visit my Facebook page.

Sincerely,

Kay R. Hagan

Weapons of war?

So, axes, bats, bow and arrow, all firearms, fireworks, flares, etc. etc. It’s just an inane term for marketing their case.

I ain’t vote for him. But this is what I got from Pat Toomey:

Dear Ryan,
Thank you for contacting me about the killings in Newtown, CT. I appreciate hearing from you.

Like all Americans, I was horrified and sickened to learn about the mass murder in Newtown, CT on December 14, 2012. As you know, Adam Lanza murdered 26 people that day, including educators and young children at Sandy Hook Elementary School and his mother at her house, before committing suicide. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families who were affected.
In response, we need to come together as a nation, carefully reflect on what happened, and have a thoughtful dialogue on how we can improve public safety and protect our children. Of note, this atrocity in Newtown was the direct result of serious mental illness – something we have consistently observed in other mass killings over the years. We therefore need to better protect ourselves from mentally ill individuals who seek to carry out such atrocities. We also need to review and improve how we take care of the mentally ill. I therefore value your input on this issue and look forward to I therefore value your input on this issue and look forward to Congressdebating which policies should be implemented to improve public safety.
Thank you again for your correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.

Senator Casey,

The pro-gun voters that voted for you in the last election called, and would like their votes back.

Thank you.

i like how he essentially admits that these stupid ideas won’t stop these sort of things, only that they will(might) keep them from happening again SOON. they know their rediculous restrictions won’t keep crazy people from commit mass atrocities.

Crap. Wasted that vote.

PA Senator Bob Casey Supports the Second Amendment But . . . He’s a F^cking Democrat POS.

Finished it for ya.

support the 2nd Amendment, or do not, there is no “sort of”.

Why do these jackwagons always say “An assault weapons ban will reduce the number of mass shootings”, but they never, EVER can cite any evidence that it does, in fact do just that?

For those of you in PA. There’s a march on the Harrisburg State Capital Building planned by the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association (PAFOA) for Jan 23rd.

http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-10/197003-harrisburg-23-jan-2013-1100-start.html#post2228856

If you happen to be in PA or nearby we would love your support. I’ve already scheduled my vacation day to ensure that I can be there. Check the forum to register.

See you there I hope.

I got the same platitudes from Cornyn down here in Texas (Cruz’s staff is failing him as he has no website as of yesterday). We are on our own- do not count on anyone in DC (with very, very few exceptions) supporting our 2A rights.

Here Is my Pathetic response from Sherrod Brown:

Dear XXXXXX:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and loved ones grieving in the wake of this merciless and random act of violence. No words can describe our horror at the murder of these innocent children and their educators, just as words fail to express our gratitude for the heroism of those teachers and law enforcement officers who responded in the morning hours of December 14, 2012. The school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary demands that we engage in a serious national discussion about gun violence, not just in terms of weapons and bullets, but also including mental health access, public safety officers, and our responsibility both as individuals and a society. We can and must act to make such tragedies less likely in the future.

This is a complex issue and we must work together to uphold our Constitution while at the same time ensuring that our communities are safe. When our children and families are no longer safe at our schools, in our malls, and in our movie theaters, then we as a country must take action.

Many Ohioans have already written in with comments, suggestions, and concerns. I will continue to pay close attention to each of your letters, calls, and emails, and on behalf of all Ohioans, I offer my continued prayers and condolences to the Newtown community. Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

Here is the B.S. response I just received from Congressmen Ed Perlmutter:

Thank you for contacting me about the shooting in Newtown and gun safety legislation. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue because it enables me to better represent the beliefs and values of our district.

My position on this issue is consistent. I support responsible and legal gun ownership. At the same time, incidents like the Connecticut school and Aurora Theater shootings are horrible tragedies, and I support reasonable crime control laws.

Since the Aurora Theater shooting in July, I have been coordinating closely with members of the House and Sen. Dianne Feinstein to prepare a responsible bill to enact an improved assault weapons ban and assault clips ban. I will introduce this bill with Sen. Feinstein and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy at the beginning of the 113th Congress in January. This bill will strengthen the assault weapons ban which expired in 2004. This effort will outlaw the future sale of assault weapons while respecting the 2nd Amendment rights of responsible gun owners by exempting many firearms used for sport, hunting and personal defense. Additionally I am a cosponsor of H.R. 308, the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act, which bans the sale of a magazine or similar device which has a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition. I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 6241, the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act, to prevent individuals from purchasing large amounts of ammunition over the Internet.

It’s time to do more than have a conversation about crime control and mental health issues. It is Congress’s responsibility to lead, and it’s time for me to take action. This is about crime control and doing what we can to deter and ultimately prevent the kinds of tragedies we’ve experienced all too often in the last few years. This effort must include a discussion about treating mental illnesses and other ways we can reduce violence in our communities. We may agree or at times disagree on these different issues, but I believe Congress should come together to enact responsible changes. Rest assured I will keep your thoughts in mind as debate on these issues continues in Congress.

I encourage you to continue to contact me about the issues important to you. Please visit our website http://www.perlmutter.house.gov where you can also sign up for my electronic newsletter, and receive periodic updates on my activities as your Representative in Washington.

Sincerely,

Ed Perlmutter
Member of Congress

I wish all the liberal transplants from CA would move back and stop f***ing up my state. I want to see my state turn RED again on the map and not blue.

Yeah, that’s the exact letter I got from Casey too. What an ass. Gets by on his old man’s name. As a political friend from Harrisburg once told me, “Bob Casey was born on third base, but he thinks he just hit a home run”. If there is any hope for this state left, he’ll be out at the plate next time.

It couldn’t be any clearer you honor. It should be obvious to the court that the Senator has had a serious break from reality, as evidenced by his recent public statements. He has clearly lost the capacity for rational thought, and shows many indications that he suffers from an unacceptable lack of impulse control. It is the opinion of the State, that the Senator currently poses a serious risk of harming himself as well as others. It is with these issues that we feel the Senator should be remanded to a state approved psychiatric facility for a 3 month evaluation to determine his mental competency, and we would also ask that a legal guardian
be immediately appointed to look out for his welfare. Upon completion of the 3 month evaluation, a board will review the recommendations of the attending physicians to determine if the Senator should remain in the protective custody of the State.

I wrote Both CA and MT(where I grew up) Reps and Senators…not a single reply.
I have some faith in the two jokers from MT though: Tester would kill his career if he backed anti-2A laws as would the rep, I’m not certain about Baucus….depends on if he wants another term or not.

This is the letter I just received from one of our Arkansas politicians(only one so far that doesn’t seem like a prestamped copy and paste letter)!!

Dear Mr. Carey,

Thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts on the Second Amendment. I am committed to putting the needs of my constituents first, and it is important that I have a direct line to you and other residents of the 1st District of Arkansas. Your correspondence plays a vital role in the legislative process, and I welcome your views and ideas.

In light of the recent tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut there have been calls for more stringent gun laws and restrictions for gun owners. While I share in the Nation’s grief over this senseless act of violence, I do not believe that just passing additional gun control laws is an appropriate solution. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution states “a well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” This passage clearly establishes the basic right of Americans to own firearms. I do not believe the federal government should compromise that right, whether for hunting, for protection, for sport, or for any lawful use.

I fully support the initiation of thoughtful dialogue on how to prevent similar tragedies in the future. It is imperative that we identify ways to improve early identification, diagnosis, and treatment for those living with serious mental illnesses. In addition, there must be a national dialogue addressing violence that is showcased on movies, video games, television and the internet. Lastly, we need to promote responsible gun ownership to ensure that common sense measures are taken by those in possession of firearms.

My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families who lost their loved ones, and I hope you will join me in praying for the victims’ families so they might find peace after this shocking tragedy. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Rick Crawford

He’s going to take weapons to show his support for the 2nd? Is this the beginning of a stand up comedy routine? I hope some gangbangers take the wheels off his car to show their support for his transportation needs. Oh well, Randy

Since we’re sharing, From Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and I’ll be doing my best to hold him to his word….

Dear Mr. X:

Thank you for contacting me about the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

I was shocked by this horrifying event, and my heart goes out to the victims, families and the Sandy Hook community as they face this tragedy. This was a terrible, senseless crime against some of the most vulnerable.

In the aftermath of this awful crime, we must be vigilant about addressing future threats to public safety. There is no simple solution, but I do not believe more restrictive gun laws will prevent criminals from committing acts of violence. I have always been and continue to be a strong defender of Second Amendment rights for law-abiding citizens.

I believe this tragedy, and the shooting earlier this year in Aurora, Colorado, illustrate a pressing need to improve mental health services in this country. The Sandy Hook shooter was in early adulthood, a time when mental illnesses frequently develop. I have introduced a bill, S. 3325, the Mental Health First Aid Higher Education Act of 2012, to improve mental health services on college campuses. This legislation would establish a program to provide training to faculty members, dormitory resident advisors, and other members of the college community to recognize the signs of mental illness and safely address crisis situations.

We must do more to keep our communities and families safe, and legislation like this is an important step in the right direction. I will continue working with my colleagues in the Senate to promote mental health services and prevent violence.

Thank you again for contacting me about this tragedy. Please continue to be in touch with your thoughts and concerns.

Sincerely,
Mark Begich
U.S. Senator

I live in PA. We need to give Philadelphia to NJ, and then we could have a senator who agrees with >80% of the landmass of the state.

If these asswipes are so concerned about “battlefield weapons”I guess they’ll outlaw Mauser K98’s and Springfields,etc.What a collection of puppets

My reply from Mark Warner (Virginia)

Dear Mr. XXXXX

On December 14, 2012, 20 innocent children and six adults lost their lives in one of the worst, most tragic shootings to ever occur in the United States. As a parent of three daughters, this was the ultimate nightmare. Like the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings, this tragedy unfolded in what was once regarded as a safe haven free of crime and violence: a school.

I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. I own firearms and I have an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association. However, I also recognize that, like with many of our constitutional rights, our Second Amendment rights are not without limits. It is unfortunate that a tragedy of this magnitude is what is needed to prompt action, but we need to have a serious discussion on how to best avoid these kinds of mass shootings in the future. The status quo is not acceptable.

I believe our discussion should cover many issues. We can start by improving the existing criminal background check system. Currently, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is woefully incomplete, with many states failing to submit available records on persons who may be disqualified from purchasing or possessing firearms. With a more complete background check system, we can keep firearms out of the hands of those who have been deemed unfit to possess them.

In addition, we can take common sense measures such as passing the CAMPUS Safety Act (S. 3682), which I introduced last year. That bill would establish a national center for campus public safety within the Department of Justice to serve as a resource center and assist schools and universities in developing campus safety plans and threat assessment tools. We also need to look at changes to our mental health system so we can provide help to those with dangerous mental illnesses before it is too late. There will not be a single solution, but all of these issues and others need to be part of the conversation and I urge you to continue to express your views as we move forward.

His response is better than some of the others in my opinion, because he doesn’t even mention magazines or “assault weapojns”. Strictly Campus Security (armed guards?), and Mental Health.

Senators, the arms used at Lexington were also “designed for the battlefield”….