I received this letter today after speaking with his district director for over an hour while being told that they would not support H.R. 1022 and even told me why. When I spoke with the district director he even told me that they knew the "figures and statistics" the Brady Campaign used to villify the semi-automatic rifles are bogus. Despite that knowledge and assurance they wouldn't support the bill, here is what I received in the mail today.
Dear Sir,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Assault Weapons Ban and the Law Enforcement Protectioin Act of 2007 or HR 1022. I appreciate hearing from you.
In 1994 Congress passed legislation, which was signed into law by President Clinton, to prohibit the manufacture, sale and importation of certain military-style, semi-automatic assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold more than ten rounds. As you know, HR 1022 would renew the assault weapons ban that the last Congress allowed to lapse in 2005.
I support renewal of the assault weapons ban. While I believe that the Second Amendment's reference to a "right to bear arms" does protect personal possession and ownership of guns, every constitutional right can be restricted in some manner and in some circumstances. In some instances, just as the right to speech does not permit incitement to riot or shouts of "fire" in a crowded theater, a particular kind of weapon can be banned if its risk to our safety substantially outweighs any benefits it provides.
In my experience as a former federal prosecutor, the most common use of assault weapons is not by law abiding hunters but by drug dealers and street gangs. Assault weapons are simply too lethal in their firepower and pose too great a threat to police officers, to leave them in wide circulation.
H.R. 1022 has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary, and I will support it if it is brought to a vote.
Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
Sincerely,
Artur Davis
What a load of you know what. Double faced politicians....
Dear Sir,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Assault Weapons Ban and the Law Enforcement Protectioin Act of 2007 or HR 1022. I appreciate hearing from you.
In 1994 Congress passed legislation, which was signed into law by President Clinton, to prohibit the manufacture, sale and importation of certain military-style, semi-automatic assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold more than ten rounds. As you know, HR 1022 would renew the assault weapons ban that the last Congress allowed to lapse in 2005.
I support renewal of the assault weapons ban. While I believe that the Second Amendment's reference to a "right to bear arms" does protect personal possession and ownership of guns, every constitutional right can be restricted in some manner and in some circumstances. In some instances, just as the right to speech does not permit incitement to riot or shouts of "fire" in a crowded theater, a particular kind of weapon can be banned if its risk to our safety substantially outweighs any benefits it provides.
In my experience as a former federal prosecutor, the most common use of assault weapons is not by law abiding hunters but by drug dealers and street gangs. Assault weapons are simply too lethal in their firepower and pose too great a threat to police officers, to leave them in wide circulation.
H.R. 1022 has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary, and I will support it if it is brought to a vote.
Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
Sincerely,
Artur Davis
What a load of you know what. Double faced politicians....