Sen. Patty Murry's response RE:AWB

[kd7ctv]

Thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts on the assault
weapons ban. I appreciate your thoughts on this important issue.

The 1994 Crime Bill is set to expire in September of 2004. This bill
banned certain semiautomatic weapons and large capacity ammunition
feeding devices. Several legislators, including Senator Dianne Feinstein
(D-CA), Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Representative Carolyn
McCarthy (D-NY) have introduced proposals to make the assault
weapons ban permanent. Some of these proposals will expand the list of
banned assault weapons, while others will simply reauthorize the current
legislation.

I voted for the 1994 Crime Bill, which included the current assault
weapons ban, because I believe that it is a reasonable measure to address
violent crime in our streets and communities. In 1993, assault weapons
accounted for 8.2 percent of all guns used in crime. In the first year after
the legislation was enacted, criminal use of assault weapons dropped 20
percent, roughly twice the overall reduction of gun crime. By November
of 1996, the last year that data is available, only 3.2 percent of gun crime
was committed with assault weapons.

Like you, I am concerned about the level of violence in this country, and
its effects on our children, families, and communities. I believe that our
national crime-fighting strategy should include reasonable measures to
control firearms, measures that strike a balance between reducing gun
violence and maintaining individual rights. Throughout my career in the
Senate, I have supported gun-control legislation that reduces crime on
our streets, while protecting the rights of legitimate, law-abiding gun
owners. Rest assured, I will keep your concerns in mind as the Senate
considers this legislation.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me regarding this difficult
and complicated issue. If you have further questions or concerns, please
feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray
United States Senator

 

[R.H. Lee]

. I believe that our
national crime-fighting strategy should include reasonable measures to
control firearms, measures that strike a balance between reducing gun
violence and maintaining individual rights

So we have a Democrat pronouncing the 2nd as an "individual right".

I'd say that's progress

 

[George S.]

Don't think that Sen. Murray is going to roll over and support a lifting of the ban. I would also expect her to vote for Feinsteins bill that was just introduced.

My two lady WA Senators are too far into the liberal camp to even hope for a change. Notice that she states there is a new bill but she did not say how she specifically felt about the bill or how she will vote on it. Then she goes on to cite statistics that show a ban on assault weapons lowered the rate of crimes involving these weapons.

Neither one of the WA Senators will be getting my vote when they come up for re-election.

 

[Old Fuff]

Perhaps someone should point out to these senators that during the past 10 years so-called Assault Weapons were not banned. What were banned were certain superfluous cosmetic items such as bayonet lugs and flash hiders. Production of the guns themselves continued, and many were equipped with pre-ban large-capacity magazines. At the same time most of those guns that were in private hands were grandfathered. The net results was that the number of guns substantially increased, while at the same time there use in crimes went down. If they really don’t think this is true send them a copy of the “Shotgun News.â€

 

[Langenator]

That is, word for word, the same boilerplate response I received from her on the same topic many months ago. It shows that neither Murray nor her staff are even thinking about the issue.

She voted in favor of Feinstein's extension amendment to S.1805. Expect her to do the same again.

Time to send some more money to George Nethercutt.

 

[priv8ter]

Guess I'm part of the problem

I haven't e-mailed either Murray or Cantwell yet about this newest attempt. I have e-mailed them in the past about firearms related issues, and their replies are such that I haven't wasted my time about this new bill.

However, this might be a good time to e-mail Mr. Nethercutt's campaign, find out just what kind of a Republican he is going to be.

greg

 

[Langenator]

I've emailed the Nethercutt campaign about the issue, and haven't received any kind of response. Might have better luck actually emailing his House office rather than the campaign.

He has earned an A- from the GOA. I wish he would take Murray to task for voting in favor of Kennedy's centerfire rifle ammo ban, but he needs to get votes in the I-5 corridor and gun issues don't play well there.

My hunch on George, based on hi record, is that he'll vote our way if elected, but will try to avoid the issue during the campaign.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Ah, Patty Murray. The dimwitted "mom in tennis shoes."