My Democratic Congressman, Ben Chandler..

[scromp]

..finally wrote me back about the AWB:

Dear Scromp*,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me about H.R. 3831, the Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2003. I believe that staying in touch with the people of the Sixth District is the most important part of my job. Your thoughts and opinions will enable me to better represent you in our nation's Capitol.

H.R. 3831 has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. The bill would amend the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act to provide for a ten-year extension of the assault weapons ban. The current ban is set to expire on September 13, 2004. On that date, weapson banned by the 1994 law will be legal to sell once again.

While I appreciate and understand differences in opinion on this difficult issue, I have always been - and will continue to be - a strong supporter of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. I will oppose any bill that infringes upon that right, and you may be assured that I will stand up for gun owners' rights should H.R. 3831 come up for a vote this year.

[blah blah boilerplate]

Thank you again for writing me, and please feel free to contact me anytime I can be assistance to you and your family.

Sincerely,
Ben Chandler
Member of Congress

That third paragraph took me a bit by surprise, it was like a movie with a twist ending. Not only did he take the right path, but he didn't say anything about hunting and he even knows what "infringe" means! Foo, I don't have any reps left to yell at.

-scromp

* ok, it didn't really say "Scromp". I claim my fifth-and-a-half amendment right of editorial license.

 

[ssr]

geez. Your democratic senator is better than my republican ones from Ohio.

 

[Preacherman]

I've always said that party affiliation isn't nearly as important as voting for a good candidate on a human level. There are some Republicans I wouldn't trust to clean my shoes, while there are some Democrats I would happily support even if there was a "good" Republican to oppose them. A good man (or woman) is hard to find - support 'em when you do!

 

[Tharg]

What ^^^^^^ He said....

 

[Old Fuff]

I agree with Preacherman, but before you make any decisions about Rep. Chandler check his voting record. I'm not saying he isn't the "real thing," but a lot of these officeholders from both parties word their replys to letters to make it look like they agree with you. If Chandler's votes match his mouth by all means support him.

 

[joegerardi]

This is the one I got from my senator:

July 20, 2004

Mr. Joseph Gerardi
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Savannah, Georgia

Dear Mr. Gerardi:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your views on the Federal ban on so-called "assault weapons." The 108th Congress has presented several pieces of legislation addressing this issue.

Legislation currently pending in the Senate includes S.1034, the "Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2003," introduced by Senator Feinstein; S. 2498, the "Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2004,"and its earlier version S.2109, both introduced by Senator Feinstein. Each of these bills would extend the 1994 ban on certain prescribed firearms, continuing a limitation on the Second Amendment rights of gun owners across the country.

As you know, I have always been a staunch supporter of Second Amendment rights. As an avid sportsman, I believe in the right of law abiding Americans to bear arms for not only recreation, but also protection. I do not support any bill that would extend the 1994 weapons ban. Since coming to Congress, I have worked very hard to defeat efforts to erode our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Rest assured, I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and I will continue to ensure that the rights of gun owners will not be further infringed upon.

Thank you for sharing your concerns with me, I appreciate hearing from you. If I may ever be of assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Saxby Chambliss
United States Senate

I actually got a letter from Zell Miller stating the same thing. Zell is a Democrat but in party affiliation only. He is about as right-wing as they come.

We need to get about another 48 of these to guarantee that the AWB dies a sharp, sudden, and final death.

Keep sending those letters and e-mails!

..Joe

 

[Werewolf]

While I appreciate and understand differences in opinion on this difficult issue, I have always been - and will continue to be - a strong supporter of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. I will oppose any bill that infringes upon that right, and you may be assured that I will stand up for gun owners' rights should H.R. 3831 come up for a vote this year.

The above is typical PoliSpeak. He didn't say whether he opposed or supported the AWB. He didn't say he would vote against a renewal.

HE DIDN'T SAY SQUAT.

Make the sucker take a stand. Call his office and ask his slaves outright whether or not he would vote for a renewal.

My guess is he would vote for a renewal based on his forked tongue response quoted above.

 

[Hypnogator]

Werewolf has the gist of it. He says he'll support 2nd Amendment rights, then defines the 2nd Amendment as pertaining only to the National Guard.

Not saying he'll vote for the AWB, but he needs to be pinned down.

 

[RooK]

Chandler is pretty new to the House. He took Fletcher's place mid-term after Fletcher got voted as Governor. Up until that point though, the only KY rep in the House that voted for gun control is some woman from Louisville's district. Even our senators vote against gun control. Although Mitch McConnell voted for that handgun saftey lock crap, he voted against everything else that was to be tacked onto the lawsuit bill. Bunning voted against everything.

scromp, when writing your reps/senators, remind them of what the Kentucky Constitution says:

Section 1: “All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned:…Seventh: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.â€