A response from my Senator on Gun Control

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SigSour

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I wrote my representatives, so far Udall is the only one to respond - but it's still *a* response. I should write the others ones until I get the same acknowledgement.

From Mark Udall - Colorado:


Thank you for contacting me regarding Second Amendment rights. I appreciate that you took the time to write on this important topic.

Responsible gun ownership is an integral part of our Western heritage. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides for an individual right, and I am dedicated to protecting the rights of citizens to own firearms for personal protection, hunting, collecting or for other legal purposes.

We can all agree that the shootings at Columbine High School; Virginia Tech; in Aurora; Tucson, AZ; Newtown, CT and other instances in which terrible crimes have been committed with guns are national tragedies that should concern us all. No single policy is going to be adequate in preventing gun tragedies in the future. We need comprehensive solutions that examine our culture's glorification of violence, the effectiveness of our laws, our ability to enforce those laws and access to firearms, especially those designed for the battlefield. We must do everything we can - consistent with the Second Amendment - to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals, the mentally ill and those who would turn them against their community. As legislation related to Second Amendment rights is debated, I will carefully examine its intentions and impacts and use your thoughts to help guide me.

I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not merely about supporting or opposing legislation, but also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at www.markudall.senate.gov.
 
It's a response, but it's not a pro-gun response. More like a polite brush off.
 
A polite brush off indeed - my objective was to stand up and be counted, looks like I was.
 
hopefully others in colorado will write reasoned, well thought out, letters to the congressional delegations of their state. I would take the time, but here in alabama, I'm not sure that's necessary. My representatives oppose pretty much everything the Democrats propose just out of spite. I should probably write them anyway, just in case.

The line from Udall, Re: "those designed for the battlefield" is telling... At the same time, I don't know if he realizes that almost all of the guns available and used all over the world are either exact copies, or close to 100% derived (with a few ergonomic, cosmetic, and safety changes) from combat or "battlefield" weapons. grampa's bolt action 30-06 might even be an old "battlefield" weapon.
 
Not enough of those politicians have actually been on a battlefield. Maybe if they had to serve a tour as a private before being eligible to run for public office......I like that idea!!
 
That's a typical neutral response. I've gotten neutral responses from my representatives before. They neither state a case for or against a particular topic. They simply write ABOUT the topic but don't take a stance.
 
rights of citizens to own firearms for personal protection, hunting, collecting or for other legal purposes.
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My copy of the Constitution only says Arms. It doesn't mention hunting or Collecting.
 
I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not merely about supporting or opposing legislation, but also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at www.markudall.senate.gov.
Click to expand...

So...he just said...what? Sounds like the guy has just given your posterior the smoke enema treatment.
 
This-

We need comprehensive solutions that examine our culture's glorification of violence, the effectiveness of our laws, our ability to enforce those laws and access to firearms, especially those designed for the battlefield.
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-sounds like it was taken right off of the Brady Campaign website.
 
Bah. I received a response from my representative that was less detailed but neutral. I wrote his constituents services rep asking for elaboration directly from my representative. He pushed a strong 2A stance when I voted for him, so I found his seeming neutrality uncharacteristic. What you got wasn't neutral, otherwise he wouldn't have made the "battlefield" distinction.
 
SigSour said:
... We need comprehensive solutions that examine ... access to firearms, especially those designed for the battlefield.
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I don't care how "dedicated to protecting the rights of citizens" he claims to be in his reply, it's obvious he neither understands, nor cares about the protections enumerated in the Bill of Rights. Don't be fooled. This is the weakest kind of leader; one that believes that compromise will somehow ensure that he keep his job, even though such compromises necessarily weaken the foundation of the Constitution he took an oath to support and defend.

This politician needs his constituents to remind him of his oath, and to encourage him to be a real leader; a leader strong enough to resist knee-jerk reactions to horrific events; a leader that is strong enough to support and defend the rights of all people of this great nation, even in the wake of terrible tragedy, by supporting and defending the Constitution.
 
Udall's a gun grabber.

When I called his offices in DC and Colorado today, his interns parroted the line about "having a conversation about guns."

That said, his interns were at least more well-behaved than Bennett's. One lady was audibly exasperated when I stated that there is no data that shows any effectiveness for a ban on either so-called "assault weapons" or >10 round magazines.



http://www.markudall.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3007

Mark Udall issued the following statement today, supporting a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to curbing gun violence and mass shootings, including a ban on military-grade weapons:

"As a Coloradan who had school-age children during the Columbine shooting and grieved alongside the victims of the Aurora tragedy this past summer, I have been shaken to the core by last week's mass shooting at the Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school. Families across our state have been deeply affected in a profound way, and it is an emotional time for us as a country. It is also a time that we must come together and have a serious discussion about concrete steps we can take to help prevent mass gun violence from happening ever again.

"A number of my colleagues in Congress have proposed ideas already, including banning assault weapons. We all recognize that Colorado and our nation have a long and storied tradition of gun ownership for hunting, outdoor recreation and self-defense. However, I am not convinced that combat weapons are necessarily part of that heritage. There are legitimate questions about the effectiveness of a ban on military-grade weapons, but I believe that a multi-faceted approach, including a ban on such weapons, can be crafted that works for Colorado sportsmen, preserves our heritage, and can and will help save lives. But the details matter, and I intend to work with law enforcement, sportsmen and anyone else who agrees that we must respect the Second Amendment while also keeping our children out of harm's way. We simply must do everything we can to ensure these military-grade weapons are never in the hands of those who would turn them against their community.

"I believe President Obama's plan to create a wide ranging set of recommendations makes a lot of sense, because no single policy is going to be adequate in preventing gun tragedies in the future. We need comprehensive — not piecemeal — solutions that examine our culture's glorification of violence, the effectiveness of our laws and our ability to enforce those laws. And as a baseline, we should all agree that we must do more to prevent criminals and the mentally ill from obtaining guns, and ensure responsible gun ownership consistent with the Second Amendment. For instance, we can follow Colorado’s example and require background checks for all gun purchases; improve the background check system by reporting state mental health records more completely; and crack down on illegal actions such as straw purchases.

"I also believe Gov. Hickenlooper is taking the right approach by seeking to do more to improve background checks and bolster mental health services. The Governor's proposal is a good example of the type of common-sense policies that we need to curb future gun violence, and I plan on doing everything I can to support him in that effort."
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At least you know someone in his office read the subject line if nothing else.

I got a response from one of my Senators (Mark Warner) and it didn't even mention the issue. It was just a generic reply saying "I appreciate your correspondence...etc."
 
At least you know someone in his office read the subject line if nothing else.
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Hate to break your guys bubble, but the senators do not write their responses. Some young secretary maybe or a professional writer he has on his staff
 
SigSour said:
I wrote my representatives, so far Udall is the only one to respond - but it's still *a* response. I should write the others ones until I get the same acknowledgement.

From Mark Udall - Colorado:


Thank you for contacting me regarding Second Amendment rights. I appreciate that you took the time to write on this important topic.

Responsible gun ownership is an integral part of our Western heritage. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides for an individual right, and I am dedicated to protecting the rights of citizens to own firearms for personal protection, hunting, collecting or for other legal purposes.

We can all agree that the shootings at Columbine High School; Virginia Tech; in Aurora; Tucson, AZ; Newtown, CT and other instances in which terrible crimes have been committed with guns are national tragedies that should concern us all. No single policy is going to be adequate in preventing gun tragedies in the future. We need comprehensive solutions that examine our culture's glorification of violence, the effectiveness of our laws, our ability to enforce those laws and access to firearms, especially those designed for the battlefield. We must do everything we can - consistent with the Second Amendment - to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals, the mentally ill and those who would turn them against their community. As legislation related to Second Amendment rights is debated, I will carefully examine its intentions and impacts and use your thoughts to help guide me.

I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not merely about supporting or opposing legislation, but also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at www.markudall.senate.gov.
Click to expand...
You got a form letter for a response.
 
You got a form letter for a response.
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Maybe so. But you can assume that they are keeping count of how many of these they are sending out, and of the numbers pro vs. anti 2nd Amendment. These contacts do matter, in some cases more than in others. In Udall's case, his NRA rating is "F" so don't expect much out of him. But he is up for reelection in 2014 (I think) and with enough pressure he might go wobbly on supporting extreme gun control measures. He'll try to walk a tightrope between his traditional statist leanings, and not so riling his constituents as to endanger his chances for reelection. But if no one from the gun culture is harassing him, then he'll feel safe in ignoring them.

I'm in AR, where my Democratic Senator, Pryor, is up for reelection in 2014. And he saw what happened to Blanch Lincoln when she gave Obama a crucial vote to get Obamacare out of committee. I think Pryor will be one of the Democrats most likely to not roll over in the Senate and give the gun grabbers what they want. So I contact him weekly about some issue or another to remind him of just how tenuous his position is for 2014. I get back form letters too, but I know he's keeping count, and knows that his constituents will vote him out in a flash if he comes down on the side of the gun grabbers.
 
baz said:
Maybe so. But you can assume that they are keeping count of how many of these they are sending out, and of the numbers pro vs. anti 2nd Amendment. These contacts do matter, in some cases more than in others. In Udall's case, his NRA rating is "F" so don't expect much out of him. But he is up for reelection in 2014 (I think) and with enough pressure he might go wobbly on supporting extreme gun control measures. He'll try to walk a tightrope between his traditional statist leanings, and not so riling his constituents as to endanger his chances for reelection. But if no one from the gun culture is harassing him, then he'll feel safe in ignoring them.

I'm in AR, where my Democratic Senator, Pryor, is up for reelection in 2014. And he saw what happened to Blanch Lincoln when she gave Obama a crucial vote to get Obamacare out of committee. I think Pryor will be one of the Democrats most likely to not roll over in the Senate and give the gun grabbers what they want. So I contact him weekly about some issue or another to remind him of just how tenuous his position is for 2014. I get back form letters too, but I know he's keeping count, and knows that his constituents will vote him out in a flash if he comes down on the side of the gun grabbers.
Click to expand...



They probably have no idea that you sent a letter in because like so many functions done today are done by computer. This is why you write a real letter,put it in an envelope and mail it. Someone will actually have to open it and read it.
 
That is the same response I got by e-mail from Udall. It is an "autoresponse" e-mail that is automatically sent out in response to the major subject as chosen by a computer program from scanning the wording of your letter to him. I have gotten some pretty funny response letters in the past because their program picked up on the wrong words...
 
Any time I see something along the lines of "I support the second amendment, but..." I know they're not on our side.
 
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