Letter from my Senator...

[Larry Ashcraft]

Got this email from Wayne Allard this afternoon:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the expiration and potential renewal
of the Assault Weapons Ban which passed and was signed in to law by
President Clinton in 1994. A number of legislative proposals dealing with
this ban are currently pending. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on
this important issue.

It is my opinion that the Federal government should not restrict the right
of law-abiding citizens to own a firearm. There is a clear distinction
between legitimate and safe use of firearms and criminal or irresponsible
uses. Unfortunately, firearms are sometimes equated with violence and
death without taking the activities of all users into consideration. While
legitimate users of firearms may find themselves strangled by regulations
and bureaucratic control, criminals will continue to find ways to avoid
legal procedures and buy guns on the black-market. As such, laws such as
the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban which do not target the true
source of crime are ineffectual in reducing violent crime rates.

As you know, the Assault Weapons Ban will expire on September 13, 2004. A
number of my colleagues have introduced legislative proposals to extend
and modify this statute. I will support any effort to constructively deal
with crime and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens. Those who obey
the law and practice their right of gun ownership should not continually
be hounded as an alternative to striking at criminals.

Again, thank you for contacting me with your thoughts on this important
issue. I will continue to work for the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Sincerely,


Wayne Allard
United States Senator

 

[Moparmike]

Sounds like a bunch of double talk.

He doesnt support the AWB, but he isnt exactly fighting it.

 

[P95Carry]

Up to and including para' #2..... I'm enjoying good sense .. and then para #3 ....

As you know, the Assault Weapons Ban will expire on September 13, 2004. A number of my colleagues have introduced legislative proposals to extend and modify this statute. I will support any effort to constructively deal with crime and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens.

My emphasis .. but what do we read into this ''support'' ... is it for his colleagues to help extend the ban? Or is it simply an effort to constructively deal with crime ....

I feel some ambiguity there .. and would like to know his exact meaning. Could be taken two ways so far. Or is that just the cynic and pessimist in me? Possibly!

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Well, I did keep an eagle eye on both him and Ben Nighthorse Campbell during the S1805 debates. I assure you they both voted for our side on every issue.

This email was in response to one I sent him this morning thanking him for voting on the side of law abiding gun owners.

 

[cookhj]

that is the most ambiguous response i think i have ever seen in my entire life...a true politician!!!

 

[mr_dove]

I'm brining this back up because I just got this same letter from Senator Allard. I searched to see if anyone else had posted his letter.

It is the most supportive letter I've gotten so far. I don't see it as doublespeak.

It clearly shows that he understands the issues and that is a very important step for a politician. He may still support legislation that he feels is "reasonable" but at least he's mostly on our side.

 

[Obiwan]

I got the same response...

I just think he wants to show that he is "tough on crime" ...just not against law-abiding gun owners

 

[Werewolf]

SO!

Is he going to support extending the ban or oppose extending the ban.

Sounds to me like what ever he does he can point to his forked tongue letter and say "see - I told you what I was going to do".

Call him on it. Ask for a definite answer is he or isn't he?

 

[ssr]

Yeah, sure sounds good, but nowhere in his response does he say that he is against renewing the AWB, although he does admit it is ineffectual.

He basically said a bunch of stuff without saying exactly what he supports or what he will do if the AWB comes up for a vote.

 

[Obiwan]

Wasn't Ben NH Campbell in the hospital for the last vote where they tried to attatch it to the liability bill???

 

[Kes]

I'd like to hear what he responds to somebody who writes in supporting the AWB. Does he go on about how gun crime and "easy access" to firearms "are problems that need to be carefully considered" or something like that?

Hmm.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I received the exact same letter. I'm going to send it back to him when he tries to hit me up for campaign contributions. I'll let him know I'm seriously concerned and seriously considering and seriously thinking about and seriously contemplating and seriously remembering his gutless, mealy-mouthed letter.

If I'd wanted gutless, mealy-mouthed gibberish, I'd have voted for a representative of the Democratic (sic) party.

 

[Stetson_CO]

Mr. Allard comes to alot of the rodeos I work, to campaign of course but, I have had time to talk with him one on one and he doesn't support the AWB (at least he didn't 2 yrs ago).

I haven't seen him recently but I haven't worked anything larger than practice rides lately, so I am not sure how he feels about it now.

Just my .02


c):{

 

[Freakhouse]

Read the reply carefully. While he doesn't explicitly state that he is against the renewal, he definately opposes regulation that limits the rights of legitimate gunowners.

"Those who obey the law and practice their right of gun ownership should not continually be hounded as an alternative to striking at criminals."

This hardly seems ambiguous, and if you look at his voting record in these areas, he is hardly one that we should be concerned about. This doesn't mean that we should stop giving him our input and support, but we shouldn't see a snake under every rock, even if the rock is in the government.