Email response from Rep. Scott Garrett, R-NJ

[John Q. Pirate]

There is certainly reason to be concerned that Northeast RINO's will cave or outwardly support gun control efforts, but I was pleasantly surprised from this reasoned response from my congressman, Scott Garrett, from NJ of all places:


Dear Friend:

Thank you for contacting me about gun control in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Understanding your ideas and concerns is important because it helps me to better represent you and the Fifth District of New Jersey. I value your comments and appreciate the opportunity to respond.

First and foremost, no words can describe the unspeakable tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut. With the loss of so many innocent lives, especially the young children, my prayers continue to go out to the victim's families and the Newtown community.

This tragic event has people across the country asking if there are steps that can be taken to prevent anything like this from happening again. As I'm sure you know, the shooter in Connecticut—a state with some of the most stringent gun control laws in the nation—stole his mother's guns to carry out this unspeakable act. He then illegally carried those stolen weapons into a gun-free zone. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a majority of guns used by criminals are stolen, bought on the black market, or obtained in other illegal ways.

Unfortunately, many will use this tragedy as an opportunity to restrict access to firearms for law-abiding citizens. I do not believe that these actions will address the underlying issue. The Second Amendment to the Constitution establishes a citizen's right to keep and bear arms. I believe that to prevent future tragedies from occurring, we must keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. I also believe that we must take steps to more effectively address mental illness, not just through the federal government, but also within our families and communities.

Please know that your correspondence is important to me, and that I appreciate your views. Should legislation concerning gun control come to the House floor for a vote, I will consider it with your thoughts in mind.

Once again, thank you for contacting me. As Congress debates solutions to the challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and views with me. Should you have any further questions or comments about this or any legislative issue, please do not hesitate to contact me in my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-4465. Also, please visit me at www.facebook.com/repscottgarrett, www.youtube.com/repscottgarrett, and my website at www.house.gov/garrett to sign up for my e-newsletter for the latest updates from Washington, D.C. and around the district.

Sincerely,

Scott Garrett
Member of Congress

 

[Double Vision]

That's just the kind of response I would expect from Mr. Garrett. He has a strong record on the R2KBA.

Unfortunately and somewhat surprisingly, the response I got in my neighboring district was not as firm.

Dear Mr. :



Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.



It is now over three weeks past the heinous murder of innocents and the horror of the attack is still almost too much to bear.



We all love our children more than anything. We expect their schools to be a sanctuary away from home, never to be violated. To teachers and parents alike, the thought that any child could be harmed is heartbreaking.



Of course, we need to find out why this happened and what drove this individual to commit these unspeakable crimes. But we also need to do everything possible to make sure that something like this never happens again in another corner of America.



I agree with the President: these daily tragedies must end. We must search for solutions, mindful that no single law or set of rules and regulations can eliminate evil from our society. But we must try. All of us.



In the meantime, Americans everywhere have come together and are praying for the families of the victims and the survivors that they may find some small measure of peace and comfort.



Again, thank you for contacting me.



Sincerely,

Rodney Frelinghuysen
Member of Congress