Conference Call with Senator Collins...

[mcdonl]

It took a few weeks to get the time nailed down but I finally have a scheduled phone meeting with Senator Collins.

I am starting to feel some momentum between our Senators, state reps and the Sportsmans Alliance of Maine... I am hoping we can shelter Maine from any failure at the National level to protect our rights.

That is of course secondary to protecting ALL OF OUR RIGHTS but important as a fall back measure.

 

[hso]

Angus isn't a reliable vote against restrictions either so once you've gotten Collins to understand how the vote needs to go it would be valuable to get his commitment.

 

[mcdonl]

Yeah, I have been working on him but the best I could get was a recommendation to work with SAM... which I am doing (They are coming to our next club meeting).

The only good thing King has done IMO is NOT put his name on the bill... everything else is just luke warm political speak.

I will keep you posted.

PS - Making a trip to TN this summer... my Daughter is looking at colleges down there.

 

[Downeast]

mcdonl,

I'm glad you are getting the opportunity to speak w/ Sen. Collins and I hope you can have a fruitful discussion w/ her. This was a response I got from Senator Collins to an e-mail request. I never heard back from Angus despite a few requests.



January 2, 2013


Dear My name here,



Thank you for contacting me in opposition to gun control legislation in the wake of the horrifying tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.



These shootings were acts of violence that our country has experienced far too often. I was shaken as I learned of the details of the shooting, which cut short the lives of so many little children and seven adults, causing such immense suffering and unspeakable grief for their families and their community.



I grew up in northern Maine where responsible gun ownership is part of the heritage of many families. While our country should examine what can be done to help prevent gun violence, denying the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens won't change the behavior of those who intend on using firearms for criminal purposes.



We need to have a national conversation to try to avert another devastating shooting. To be fruitful, however, that discussion must do more than focus solely on regulating firearms; it also needs to examine issues such as the glorification of violence in the media and video games and the mental health system in this country.



Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.



Sincerely,


Susan M. Collins
United States Senator

 

[Ryanxia]

Downeast, that was the same auto response I got from her. Which I was surprised because she normally writes back personally.

I wish you luck in this conference call, let her know there are many other Mainers that deeply concerned with her actions and will use her stance on our Constitutional Rights to decide whether to support her during her reelection or to work passionately to unseat her. Regardless of how you handle it, chose your words wisely.

 

[mcdonl]

I will be working on discussion points...

Any sussinct points would be helpful. I get wordy and I am sure I will be on a timer.

 

[bk42261]

received today from Collins

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding the debate over gun control measures. I appreciate your taking the time to do so.



There are many proposals being discussed at the federal level, including expanded background checks, a ban on large-capacity magazines, and a prohibition on military-style "assault" weapons. I understand your concerns with the proposals offered by the President and Senator Feinstein. On January 24th, Senator Feinstein introduced her legislative ban on military-style weapons which President Obama also supports. This legislation appears to be far broader than the 1994 "assault" weapons ban, and it appears to place onerous requirements on gun owners, including new background checks of existing owners of military-style weapons.



Responsible gun ownership is part of the heritage of many families in Maine. In fact, Maine has one of the highest rates of gun ownership yet the lowest rate of violent crime in the country. While our country should examine what can be done to help prevent gun violence, denying the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens won't change the behavior of those intent on using firearms for criminal purposes.



We need to have a national conversation about ways to avert another devastating mass murder, as well as discuss reasonable ideas about preventing violence. The root causes of violence in our country are complex, and if we are to take an effective approach, then we must be comprehensive in our analysis. On January 16th, President Obama announced his plan to address gun violence, much of which was derived from Vice-President Biden's taskforce. I am disappointed that the President's proposals did not include a National Commission on Violence that I had recommended along with several of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This commission would have closely examined all the issues around mass violence, specifically looking at the role of mental illness and violence in the media.





We must examine, among other issues, whether states are reporting data on mentally ill individuals found to be a danger to themselves or others to the national background check system designed to prevent gun purchases by such individuals. As was the case in the Connecticut, Colorado, and Arizona shootings, mental illness is a salient factor in many of these tragedies. The national dialogue should evaluate how we as a society can better identify and care for troubled individuals who pose a threat to themselves and others. We must also take a deeper look at the possible role played by the glorification of violence in our media and video games while at the same time respecting First Amendment rights.



I also believe that Congress should examine school safety. You may be interested to know that I am the lead Republican cosponsor of S. 146, the School Safety Enhancement Act. This legislation would provide matching grants to help cover the cost of security measures in schools including metal detectors, training for students, teachers, and administrators, and coordination with local law enforcement.



Thank you for contacting me on this important matter. I will keep your views in mind as the Senate addresses the President's recommendations, and other proposals relating to firearms and violent crime in this country.


<br / > Sincerely,


Susan M. Collins
United States Senator

 

[mcdonl]

Also, if any of you guys are in Souther Maine David Trahan, SAM’s Executive Director will be at our next Gun Club Meeting (Buxton & Hollis Rod and Gun) on the third Tuesday of February and if we join as a club all members get 50% off individual memberships. I am not sure if you caught the news but Mark Dion (Former Cumberland County Sheriff turned tyrant) is proposing his own (Highly supported) UBC/Mag Limit and the SAM is the only organization fighting him. SAM's numbers have grown by 500 in the past month but we need to get the numbers higher and be vocal at the state level too.

 

[Ryanxia]

Be sure to let us know how the conference call went.

 

[mcdonl]

I will


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcdonl]

I thought it was a great conversation with Senator Collins... I am also proud of the fact that we live in a Country where we can be so active in our leadership. The sleeping giant is indeed awake.

Below are highlights from one of the last letters (As seen above by another member) and from our phone conversation, as you can imagine she is pretty well versed at “sticking to her story” so her opinions on the phone and in writing were in lock step.

•She will not vote for a bill that contains a ban on any hardware or universal background checks.
•She does not feel that putting onerous requirements on gun owners is going to solve any of the problems.
•Responsible gun ownership is part of the heritage of many families in Maine. In fact, Maine has one of the highest rates of gun ownership yet the lowest rate of violent crime in the country. While our country should examine what can be done to help prevent gun violence, denying the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens won't change the behavior of those intent on using firearms for criminal purposes.
•The root causes of violence in our country are complex, and if we are to take an effective approach, then we must be comprehensive in our analysis.
•She is disappointed that the President's proposals did not include a National Commission on Violence that I had recommended along with several of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This commission would have closely examined all the issues around mass violence, specifically looking at the role of mental illness and violence in the media.
•We must also take a deeper look at the possible role played by the glorification of violence in our media and video games while at the same time respecting First Amendment rights.

She went on to say she is the lead Republican cosponsor of S.146, the School Safety Enhancement Act. This legislation would provide matching grants to help cover the cost of security measures in schools including metal detectors, training for students, teachers, and administrators, and for coordination with local law enforcement.

She also indicated that even if you are found adjudicated mentally defective that not all states are properly reporting this information and people slip by the system.