old lady new shooter
Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2015
- Messages
- 30,611
Received this email in response to the email I sent (see original thread). It's probably canned but it's always good to see how legislators characterize their positions:
Thank you for contacting me to share your support for legislation to combat gun violence. I appreciate your thoughts on this important matter.
I am horrified by the recent shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. These events have called attention to hatred of people based on their race, political beliefs, sex, or other characteristics is anti-American. This hatred threatens the fabric of what we stand for as a nation, and has no place in either our society or our political discourse.
We must begin by calling violent acts that are designed to coerce or intimidate a civilian population what they are: domestic terrorism. For too long we have allowed those who commit heinous acts of domestic terrorism to be charged with related crimes that don’t portray the full scope of their hateful actions. I recently introduced legislation that would add specific punishments for acts of domestic terrorism and treat it under the law the same as other forms of terrorism. My legislation will criminalize violent acts meant to terrorize Americans, increase resources available to law enforcement to combat the scourge of domestic terrorism, and ensure that victims of domestic terrorism are properly recognized.
Additionally, we need to a better job preventing dangerous people from getting guns. I am committed to ensuring that criminals and those with dangerous mental illnesses cannot obtain firearms. I have supported, and continue to support, robust funding for the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a program that identifies individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Improving our broken mental health system is another key component of preventing gun violence. While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, I introduced H.R. 3722, the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act. A number of provisions from this legislation were enacted as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law on December 13, 2016. These provisions included support for mentally-ill offenders re-entering their communities, expansion of assistance to individuals with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders, and training improvement for law enforcement to better identify, and respond to, instances involving mental illness.
Law enforcement must also be given the tools to prevent gun violence. I was a co-sponsor of the STOP School Violence Act; this important, bipartisan legislation was signed into law by the President on March 28, 2018 and provided funding for violence prevention training for students, teachers, and law enforcement officers. Additionally, it increased technology to improve school security, as well as anonymous reporting systems to prevent violence before it even enters our schools.
There is obviously much more to do. I have made clear that I am open to returning early from the Senate’s August work period so that Congress can begin meaningful discussion about how best to prevent future gun violence. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and the President to ensure that Americans must never again suffer such senseless violence.
As the 116th Congress addresses the many challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and concerns. To keep up with my work in Congress, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook, or visit my website at mcsally.senate.gov where you can sign up to receive my e-newsletter. Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. Please continue contacting my office regarding issues that you feel are important to you and Arizona.
Thank you for contacting me to share your support for legislation to combat gun violence. I appreciate your thoughts on this important matter.
I am horrified by the recent shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. These events have called attention to hatred of people based on their race, political beliefs, sex, or other characteristics is anti-American. This hatred threatens the fabric of what we stand for as a nation, and has no place in either our society or our political discourse.
We must begin by calling violent acts that are designed to coerce or intimidate a civilian population what they are: domestic terrorism. For too long we have allowed those who commit heinous acts of domestic terrorism to be charged with related crimes that don’t portray the full scope of their hateful actions. I recently introduced legislation that would add specific punishments for acts of domestic terrorism and treat it under the law the same as other forms of terrorism. My legislation will criminalize violent acts meant to terrorize Americans, increase resources available to law enforcement to combat the scourge of domestic terrorism, and ensure that victims of domestic terrorism are properly recognized.
Additionally, we need to a better job preventing dangerous people from getting guns. I am committed to ensuring that criminals and those with dangerous mental illnesses cannot obtain firearms. I have supported, and continue to support, robust funding for the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a program that identifies individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Improving our broken mental health system is another key component of preventing gun violence. While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, I introduced H.R. 3722, the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act. A number of provisions from this legislation were enacted as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law on December 13, 2016. These provisions included support for mentally-ill offenders re-entering their communities, expansion of assistance to individuals with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders, and training improvement for law enforcement to better identify, and respond to, instances involving mental illness.
Law enforcement must also be given the tools to prevent gun violence. I was a co-sponsor of the STOP School Violence Act; this important, bipartisan legislation was signed into law by the President on March 28, 2018 and provided funding for violence prevention training for students, teachers, and law enforcement officers. Additionally, it increased technology to improve school security, as well as anonymous reporting systems to prevent violence before it even enters our schools.
There is obviously much more to do. I have made clear that I am open to returning early from the Senate’s August work period so that Congress can begin meaningful discussion about how best to prevent future gun violence. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and the President to ensure that Americans must never again suffer such senseless violence.
As the 116th Congress addresses the many challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and concerns. To keep up with my work in Congress, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook, or visit my website at mcsally.senate.gov where you can sign up to receive my e-newsletter. Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. Please continue contacting my office regarding issues that you feel are important to you and Arizona.
