Sen. Allen Replies

[Leatherneck]

I wrote yesterday to both my senators, Warner and Allen:

Dear Senator Warner:
I am shocked and appalled to hear that you are not only supporting, but
sponsoring renewal of, the Clinton's so-called assault weapons ban. This
demonstrably ineffective legislation will do nothing to reduce crime in the
Old Dominion, and it will at best inconvenience, and at worst imprison,
law-abiding citizens who own or buy a weapon with certain cosmetic features arbitrarily banned.


Senator, I and my wife, along with many of our friends and acquaintances in
Northern Virginia and the Northern Neck have been long-time supporters of
you and the Republican Party in Virginia. If you forsake us now and join the
flaming left wing of the Hollywood elite, that support WILL cease to exist
overnight. I most respectfully ask you to consider seriously the corrosive
effect your misguided support for this sham legislation will have at the
polls. I assure you: my friends and associates do vote and we are watching
your actions on this issue closely.
>
Respectfully Yours,

[Leatherneck]

I got an automatic response from Allen almost immediately, with a promise of a personal reply to follow. Just got this:

February 26, 2004

[Leatherneck]

Nokesville, Virginia 20181

Dear [Leatherneck]:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the renewal of the 1994 Assault
Weapons Ban. I appreciate your concerns and value the opportunity to
respond.

I have a long record of standing up for the Second Amendment rights of
Virginians and Americans, and have worked to preserve those rights for
law-abiding citizens.

When I campaigned for the United States Senate, I made a commitment to the people of Virginia that I would support reauthorization of the Assault
Weapons Ban in its current form. However, I want to emphasize that I do
not support any additions to the existing law, such as adding more guns
and ammunition to the list.

The focus of our attention in fighting crime should be to ensure full
enforcement of existing laws. This would do more to keep illegal guns out
of the hands of criminals than passing new and additional requirements on
the sale of firearms to law-abiding citizens. You will be interested to
know that I am a co-sponsor of both S.1414, which would restore second
amendment rights in the District of Columbia, and S.659, which would stop
frivolous lawsuits against the firearms industry.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. If you would like to
receive an e-mail newsletter about my initiatives to improve America,
please sign up on my website (<http://allen.senate.gov>). It is an honor
to serve you in the United States Senate, and I look forward to working
with you to make Virginia and America a better place to live, learn, work
and raise a family.

With warm regards, I remain

Sincerely,
A
George Allen

I'm impressed by the speediness of his answer, and at least he's citing a promise made as his reason for not opposing renewal of the AWB. Of course, I disagree with him, but at least he's honest.

Here's what I'm going to send him:

Dear Senator Allen:
Thank you for responding promptly to my request for you to oppose any renewal of the so-called Assault Weapons Ban. I appreciate your speedy reply, as I know this is a busy time.

While I respect and value your intention to keep to promises made during the campaign, I strongly believe you are not representing the will of the large majority of Virginians in supporting this silly and dangerous law. I hope you will consider this in your deliberations now ongoing.

Respectfully Yours,
Leatherneck

Warner, OTOH, hasn't responded at all.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Leatherneck]

Hmmmmm...can't get through to his website. Think it's busy today?

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Bob Locke]

I wish I could say I'm shocked, but I'm not. I was chairman of the Portsmouth, VA GOP city committee during part of Allen's term as governor. This is just more of the same from him, IMO.

Warner will vote for renewal in a heartbeat. I'd bet the farm, ranch, and entire homestead on it. We should have replaced him with Jim Miller several years ago when we had the chance. If Warner hadn't been able to force an open primary (and then cater to the Demcrats to get them to vote for him in it) then we would have.

And this is BAD news, because George Allen is pretty much considered a "conservative" among the Senate Republicans.

:banghead: