[GregoryTech]

Opinions: Is this a good start?

Dear (my Congressman and Senators),

Gun control issues are tilting the scales and have had a significant impact on the balance of power in Washington.

I would like to express my sincere hope that you do not further harm your party by voting in favor of a renewal to the Assault Weapons Ban. Not only is it silly to ban firearms based upon their appearance, but crime statistics clearly show that these weapons are very rarely used in crime.

Please VOTE AGAINST a renewal to the Assault Weapons Ban.

Thank you for your time.

[Art Eatman]

Yeah. Short, one subject, polite.

I'd add "RE: Assault Weapons Ban" before the salutation.

I'd put the word "VOTE" into lower case.

You might consider, "...these weapons were and are very rarely...

You could use the same envelope with another, different letter, showing opposition to H.R. 124, the handgun registration act spoken of elsewhere in this forum. They would be filed separately, absent a generalized "firearms" file.

Art

[GregoryTech]

A reply from Bill Nelson.

Dear me:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns about the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban.

I support the constitutional right to bear arms. However, I also support efforts to reduce gun violence and promote firearms safety. As a member of Congress, I voted for banning assault weapons such as AK-47's. It is imperative that such firearms are kept out of the hands of felons. I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind when the Senate debates the extension of the Assault Weapons Ban.

I appreciate you informing me about your views on this issue. Your communication in important as it helps me serve you better in the Senate.

Please do not reply to this message. The e-mail address senator@billnelson.senate.gov is no longer valid for incoming messages. If you would like additional information or would like to contact me in the future, please visit my website, http://billnelson.senate.gov, and click on the link marked "Contact Bill".

[Art Eatman]

My preference is snail mail for letters to Congressfolks. From what I hear, they do carry more weight than email or FAX.

If you do pursue this further with you reps, you might point out that during the hearings on the Brady Bill and on the AW Ban, it was BATF testimony which stated that AWs were rarely used in crimes. Insofar as "evil attributes", I'd ask how often bayonets have been reported as used in crimes, or how such things as flash hiders affect crime rates. Etc., etc.

I doubt it will do much good, of course. The BATF and other federal agencies testified that no crimes had ever been perpetrated with legally-owned full-auto weapons--but yet we got that ban on new-production F-As, back in '85 or '86.

Still, the key is brevity and courtesy.

:), Art