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Responses From Officials

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11 years 11 months ago #15522 by VTIT
Responses From Officials was created by VTIT
I thought it might be a good idea to post some of the responses people are getting when they are writing to their congressman, senator, or whoever. Here is one I got back so far. Seems like a form letter but...:


January 10, 2013





Dear Kendall,



Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the horrific slaughter of twenty six people, including twenty children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. I appreciate hearing from you.



The unspeakable tragedy in Newtown was a transformational moment in the national conversation on gun violence. There should be no conflict between protecting innocent children from slaughter and preserving the constitutional rights of law abiding citizens. It is time for America to reach a long overdue consensus on practical steps to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.



Common sense gun legislation should be part of the solution. I intend to work with the President and Congress to support legislation that would place restrictions on the sale of assault weapons and limit high capacity ammunition clips. We must also find a better way to prevent mentally unstable individuals from obtaining a gun. We should ensure that federal agencies, as well as state and local law enforcement authorities, are sharing relevant information to improve the effectiveness of background checks. We should find ways to address the gruesome violence on display to our children every day through television, movies and video games. And we must, even in an era of fiscal restraint, improve mental health services at the local level.



In Vermont, we are fortunate not to have experienced gun violence on the scale of Newtown. And we have a long tradition of responsible gun use. Parents teach their children proper use of firearms. Families hunt together. And children learn about wildlife and the environment as they walk in the woods appreciating the wonder of Vermont's natural terrain. We can preserve this tradition while also taking meaningful steps to ensure that tragedies like Newtown, Aurora, Virginia Tech and Columbine are not repeated.



I will keep your thoughts in mind as Congress considers this issue.





Sincerely,

PETER WELCH

Member of Congress

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11 years 11 months ago #15526 by bipe215
Replied by bipe215 on topic Responses From Officials
Thank you for taking the time to email me to share your thoughts and concerns.

I want you to know that we read every single letter and e-mail that is sent to us in order to best understand the issues that are important to you. It is our commitment to respond to your input as thoughtfully and efficiently as possible. I meet with my staff regularly to discuss the issues raised in correspondence like yours and will be back in touch with a more thorough response soon.

Thank you again for your email. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.

Sincerely,


Bob Corker
United States Senator






From Senator Lamar Alexander:

Dear Steve,

Thanks very much and letting me know what’s on your mind regarding the right to bear arms.

I’m a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. Congress should not pass laws that take away these rights from law abiding citizens and leave criminals to terrorize the streets. Good citizens don’t abuse guns – criminals do. I will continue to support legislative efforts to protect the Second Amendment rights of law abiding Americans, and oppose efforts to overturn the Second Amendment.

In two recent cases, the U.S. Supreme Court clearly held that the Second Amendment protects the right of individual Americans to keep and bear arms. In the 2008 case, D.C. v. Heller, the Supreme Court held that D.C.’s restrictive gun laws violated the constitutional rights of Americans. Two years later, in McDonald v. Chicago, the court struck down the city of Chicago’s handgun ban and held that, like the federal government, state and local governments must respect Second Amendment rights. I joined legal briefs in both cases in defense of this constitutional right and was pleased with the Supreme Court’s decisions.

I am grateful you took the time to let me know where you stand. I’ll be sure to keep your comments in mind as Second Amendment rights are discussed and debated in Washington and in Tennessee.

Sincerely,
Lamar

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11 years 11 months ago #15592 by Skostas
Replied by Skostas on topic Responses From Officials
Form letter. Got the same e-mail. Responded that the terminology he used indicated that he was perhaps not well-informed on the issue as he needs to be. Sent him Massad Ayoob's "Why Good People Need Semi-automatic Firearms and 'Hi-Capacity' Magazines"

I do not believe it will matter. The folks on the opposite side are not dissuaded by factual information, and their leaders have a crystal-clear agenda. They are not going to let, as they put it, a good crisis go to waste.

If our socioeconomic situation continues to deteriorate, they will have repeated opportunities to attack our rights, because the people on the mentally unstable borderline will sink below it in increasing numbers. Condition yellow.

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