Congressman's Reply to my HB 1022 Concerns

[pccraig]

Wrote my Illinos Congressman about my concerns over permanent weapons bans. Here is his reply:

Dear Patrick,

Thank you for contacting me about banning assault weapons. It is good to hear from you.

On February 13, 2007, Representative Carolyn McCarthy introduced H.R. 1022, the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007. This legislation would reinstate for ten years repealed criminal provisions that ban assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The bill also revises the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" to include conversion kits (for converting a firearm to such a weapon) and any semiautomatic rifle or pistol with the ability to accept a detachable magazine, among other specified characteristics.

I agree with you that our Second Amendment rights are under attack. Gun control advocates must recognize that gun ownership is not the source of our crime problem. Imposing gun control measures on law abiding citizens simply will not stop criminals from obtaining guns. Criminals break the law anyway. Gun control will only harm law-abiding citizens who will no longer be able to obtain firearms for self defense. We must stop focusing on the symptoms of crime and deal directly with the problem -criminals.

H.R. 1022 has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary where it awaits further consideration. Please rest assured that I will not support this legislation should it come to the House floor for a vote.

Thank you again for contacting me about this issue. Your input is important to my work here in Washington.

Sincerely,

Donald A. Manzullo

Member of Congress

 

[Nightcrawler]

Good answer! Haven't heard back from my rep yet. :-|

 

[Frog48]

Wow, I'm impressed. It sounds like he sincerely intends to protect in our 2A rights. I would have expected a more vague, "talk around the question" response from a politician. I'm glad to see that some of our Congressmen are willing to reply with a straightforward answer.

 

[EdLaver]

All I can say is this, EVERY THR member should write they're rep, but also get whatever goodies you need before such a bill gets passed. You all know all well as I, that sometimes our country's government makes decisions straight from an episode of the "Twighlight Zone" that makes you think now why the would they make such a decision especially in the times we are facing now were almost every country hates us.

 

[DogBonz]

WOW...

No wish washy BS. Good Man. I'd vote for him if I could.

 

[pccraig]

Here's my Letter

Feel free to use any of it in your letter writing campaigns:

I am writing today to express my concerns over House Bill 1022, the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007 and the obvious ramifications passage of this piece of misguided legislation will have on the rights of your law abiding voting constituents.

As a veteran of the US Armed forces who served in the Marine Corps for 10 years, including participation in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, I and the veterans who have served before me have made immeasurable personal sacrifices, and have offered our own lives in defense of our Constitution and the protections it provides.

As the saying goes, “Freedom Is Not Free” and this bill would strip us of one of the most fundamental freedoms we enjoy; our Second Amendment right. Millions of Americans own the firearms that have been “targeted” by HB1022, which has been shrouded by the myth that it will reduce violent crime and protect law enforcement officers.

We all know by now that gun bans have no affect on violent crime. In fact, after its 1989 ban, California’s murder rate increased every year for five years—26% overall. California banned more guns as of January 2000, and its murder rate has since increased 13%, while in the rest of the country murder has decreased 3%. (FBI and BJS)

The FBI annually compiles data concerning the felonious and accidental line-of-duty deaths and assaults of law enforcement officers and presents these statistics in Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA). FBI incident summaries indicate that the guns are rarely used to kill police officers.

I and many other Illinois gun owners use semi-automatic and pump-action firearms for hunting and target shooting. I myself am a competitive rifle shooter who participates in matches here in the Midwest to prepare for the National Matches held annually, and for the last 100 years at Camp Perry, in Ohio.

When the list of guns that are called "assault weapons" grows longer as each new bill is introduced, I can’t help but see the obvious political agenda come bursting through the crime and law enforcement protection facade. First, it was military-looking semi-automatics. Then they added all semi-automatic shotguns and detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles. Now they are including pump-action shotguns, and, in some cases, 28-ga. and larger shotguns regardless of action type.

We even see a Michigan bill that would permit the state police to conduct annual home inspections to determine if registered "assault weapons" are stored in the manner they deem to be proper, following the British "mandatory storage" example. Frankly, I find it alarming how quickly legislators forget where they live when the fever to stomp on the Constitution begins to spread every time a legislature experiences a shift in leadership or political party gains a majority. It’s shameful really.

As the effort to strangle my and my fellow Americans’ right to keep and bear arms increases, those who are more interested in disarming us than actually fighting crime or protecting police officers are determined not to let the truth get in their way.

They know they can count on fear to help conceal their deception, or prey on the emotions of the American people every time a heinous crime is committed with a gun. I would be interested to see what the reaction would be to an effort to ban Chevrolets every time someone was killed by a drunk driver, or an import ban on BMWs for the same crime. If facts alone drove the debate, there would be no debate.

I hope I’ve been able to express how strongly I support our Second Amendment right. I and millions of other American gun owners feel passionately about the protection of that right. We are organized, and have a long tradition of expressing our views with our elected officials, both at the beginning and end of their terms.

Thank you for your time and consideration

 

[shaggycat]

I am impressed to hear that response!

 

[EdLaver]

thats a great letter pccraig, your background and recreational match shooting is probably what got him to respond. Most of these guys dont even read our leaders, they sit in a pile and are only opened on rainy or dull days months after recieval

 

[CaptainClay]

Awesome response from the congressman.


I have been struggling with these thoughts lately. Hear me out.... Why would people in elected office vote yes on, or propose, a bill similar to this one when they themselves think it's okay for they themselves to own guns? They know that the 2nd amendment was designed to keep up the principles of a representative republic (which is what we were intended to be... NOT a democracy). The 2nd amendment is designed so that the govt. should fear the people, not so that the people should fear the govt. How best to take the fear the govt. has for us away than to take our arms away?

Those that want tighter restriction on guns have no intentions of, or beliefs in, making us safer. They want your guns gone because it gives them more control.

The reasons for their motives, I believe, would take me hours to write and would seem very "conspiracy theorist" so I'll just save them for myself.

 

[SpeedAKL]

This really concerns me, and I think that it's the wrong way to deal with crime. Do they honestly think that they will lower crime by banning large magazines, pistol grips, and flash suppressors:banghead:?

Unfortunately if there is a lesson I've learned over my years of following politics it's that politicians are anything but rational.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Do they honestly think that they will lower crime by banning large magazines, pistol grips, and flash suppressors

No, they don't. What you have is a bunch of elitist politicians who don't like the idea of regular folks having scary guns. Since they don't like it, then obviously it needs to be a federal law, because they're lawmakers and they know what's best.

I hate it when they try to legislate their bigotry. It never ends well.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I wrote both Senators and my Congressman a very simple letter.
It said. "If you vote for HR-1022 or any other Gun Control Bill I will never vote for you."

So far only Senator Arlen Specter has written back but it was VERY GOOD.

Here is is...

Dear Mr. S________:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding gun control. I appreciate you writing to express your interest and opinions on this important matter.

Millions of Americans own firearms for a variety of reasons: many wish to protect themselves and their property while others collect firearms as a hobby or use firearms for sport. Most gun owners are responsible citizens and understand the burden of owning a firearm. While a tiny fraction of the guns in this country are used in the unfortunate instance of the commission of a crime, the government should not prevent gun ownership which would punish law-abiding citizens. I believe the Second Amendment clearly defines the right of citizens to own guns and in my tenure in the Senate, I have a strong record supporting the right of law abiding citizens to own guns.

I opposed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act , more commonly known as the 'Brady Bill.' I believed this legislation to be onerous in its restrictions on individuals' right to purchase firearms and I believe it did not sufficiently address the relevant issues necessary to combat crime.

In the 109th Congress (2005-2006) , I voted in favor of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act . This act limits the civil liability of gun manufacturers and reduces frivolous lawsuits. During the Senate's consideration of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for FY 2007 , I supported and the Senate adopted an amendment which would prohibit any funding provided by this legislation to be used for the purpose of confiscating firearms during a natural disaster or another state of emergency.

Thank you again for contacting me regarding the right to own firearms. I will keep your thoughts in mind if the Senate considers any legislation relating to guns or gun control in the 110th Congress. Please be assured, I will continue to support the rights of law abiding citizens to keep and own firearms. If you have any further questions about this issue or any other issue, please contact my office or visit my website at www.specter.senate.gov .

Sincerely,

Arlen Specter

 

[pdowg881]

So when is this bill being voted on? What's my time frame to go shopping for my first AR?

 

[Lichter]

Most of these guys don't even read our leaders, they sit in a pile and are only opened on rainy or dull days months after receival

A while back I was an intern in my congressman's office. It was quite an eyeopener in the way things were done. We'd get a stack a mail twice a day and all the interns would open and sort the mail. Most of the letters would deal with one of the hot topics. We'd then find the stock letter written by one staffers we had on file and mail it out to the person. If you want to make the staffers angry write a letter with several topics so they have to write a new letter instead of matching it up with one of the letters already on file. At the end of the day, the letters from constituents were filed away and the congressman never saw them. We did however pull out the local newspapers he got mailed to him and put them on his desk. That with everything else that went on made me cynical towards the state of our political system. I still wrote the congressman and I'm waiting to get my stock letter back from him.

 

[JesseL]

Here is the reply I got from my Congressman:

Dear Mr. XXXXX:

Thank you for your contacting me regarding assault weapons. I appreciate learning your views.

In 1994, Congress passed legislation that banned for ten years the possession, transfer, or further domestic manufacture of certain types of semi-automatic guns, commonly known as the "assault weapons" ban, which expired on September 13, 2004 These prohibitions were based on certain cosmetic features on guns, such as those equipped with a bayonet holder or a certain type of pistol grip. Many functionally equivalent guns remained on the market throughout the ban, because the 1994 legislation restricted gun ownership based on the appearance of the weapon. The ban did not restrict ownership of automatic weapons or machine guns. These types of guns have been regulated by the federal government since 1934.

There is no evidence that the 1994 law has reduced crime in any way. The framers of our Constitution explicitly guaranteed a citizen’s right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment. Rather than passing legislation based on the cosmetic properties of certain guns, Congress should focus on preventing criminal behavior while protecting the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens. I will continue to work to protect the Constitutional rights promised to all Americans.

Thank you again for your letter. Please feel free to contact me regarding any future issue of importance to you.


Sincerely,

Rick Renzi
United States Congressman
First District of Arizona

Sounds a bit like a canned reply, but I like the message.

 

[Jspy]

An excellent letter and response Pat. I was under the assumption that most legislators in Illinois were bowing down to the pressures of the big city crowd (Chicago) and figured it was a case of the tail wagging the dog in that regard.

 

[pccraig]

Actually, The Illinois State Rifle Association is a well organized, "action oriented" group.

The Mayor of Chicago may pull the strings in Cook County, but that's the limit of his reach.

Check out what else we're up to here:

http://www.isra.org/

 

[Ray P]

Here's my Letter ... Feel free to use any of it in your letter writing campaigns

Thank you! I borrowed liberally (but truthfully*), and sent it to Rep Tom Allen of ME. As Rep. Allen is a known anti-gunner, I'm very interested to see if I even get a response.

*Changed years of service and branch, and I'm not a competitor. I do use a semi for hunting (Rem 750), and I did first qualify Expert Rifle using an M16.

 

[Brian Williams]

I am going to mine this thread to send additional letters to my congresscritters, and I also got one back from a local senator in PA about the PA assault weapons bill and he is blaming George Bush for the sunset of the Federal ban and feels that we need on in PA to fill in.
I am going to scan his letter to show the BS.

 

[illini52]

The letter above sounds like it was written by a 16 year old girl.
Everyone please write and make polite calls to your reps.



CHICAGO SUCKS!

 

[Dr.Rob]

This really belongs in L&P.

 

[collateral]

I wrote to John Dingell, as he represents my district. He is the longest serving representative in the house. Hopefully he won't support the bill, maybe others would follow his example?

 

[david_the_greek]

Uh yeah I sent a letter similary to pccraig and this was the reply. good to know my representative/her workers actually read what I sent her.

"March 6, 2007


Dear Mr. Macon:


Thank you for contacting me to encourage my support for the Employee Free Choice
Act, sponsored by Rep. George Miller (D-CA). I appreciate learning your
concerns on this issue of interest to you.

The right to union representation is one that is guaranteed under the National
Labor Relations Act. Over the years, the worker protections established under
the NLRA have been eroded by lax enforcement by the Department of Labor and a
business community that is intent on denying workers their right to be
represented by a bargaining representative. For example, employers who
illegally fire union supporters are seldom fined or sanctioned; thousands of
pro-union employees are discriminated against by their employers; and many
employers threaten their employees with plant shutdowns if employees vote
favorably for union representation, although this rarely happens.

This measure proposes to strengthen the National Labor Relations Act by
simplifying the organizing process, expanding remedies for employer interference
and intimidation, and committing employers and employees to truly good-faith
collective bargaining. Therefore, I have added my name to the list of
cosponsors supporting this measure.


Sincerely,

Carolyn C. KILPATRICK
Member of Congress"

 

[geronimotwo]

in representative mike sturla's letter he states, "there is no need for any citizen to own these military style weapons." he might as well say that everyone should be driving a vw beetle. whats the point of having a cadillac, farrari, etc, except that we choose to drive them.

 

[Outlaw Man]

That's great to hear! Illinois gets a bad rap because of Chicago, but there are some very gun-friendly people in all levels of government there. Thanks for electing this guy.