Senate Taking up Gun debate NOW

[sporty66]

Make Sure you call and email your senators now. They are taking up Harry Rieds bill s.649 at 10am this morning. Let them know were you stand and stop them from chipping away our rights.

 

[Billy Shears]

Unfortunately Virginia is lost, as far as the Senate is concerned, thanks to the fact that both the senators are Democrats, and will toe the democratic party line. Mark Warner has already indicated he would support an AWB if it came to the floor for a vote, and no doubt he will also support universal background checks and magazine bans. I just got an email from Tim Kaine today indicated that he will support these things as well.

Thank you for contacting me to share your views on proposals to reduce gun violence. I appreciate hearing from you.
No one can deny that gun violence is a serious problem in this country today. We owe it to the victims of the growing number of mass shootings to vigorously debate specific and comprehensive proposals that can keep our communities safer. The right approach focuses on many issues - improvements to the mental health system, better security protocols and common sense rules about gun use, including keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals.
When I was on the Richmond City Council in the 1990s, our city was mired in an epidemic of gun violence that included the city having the second-highest homicide rate in the United States. The most successful step we took was implementing Project Exile, a program that involved federal prosecution and tougher penalties for gun crimes that were previously treated more leniently in state courts. Celebrated by diverse groups engaged in the gun violence debate - including the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign - the program helped drive down Richmond's homicide rate by nearly 60 percent within a few years.
In 2007, the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech revealed glaring weaknesses in campus security protocols at colleges and universities, in our mental health system and the gun background check system for gun purchases. In a bipartisan spirit, I worked with then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell to immediately improve our background check system and issued an executive order ensuring that those adjudicated to be mentally ill and dangerous would be entered into a national database and barred from purchasing weapons. We also changed standards for mental health treatment and increased funding for community health programs while dramatically improving campus security and efforts to assist college students suffering from mental stress.
In January I attended a round-table event in Richmond with Vice President Biden on gun violence, to talk about the lessons learned in Virginia and the need for a comprehensive approach to these problems. As your U.S. Senator, I will work to bring that kind of comprehensive approach that will strengthen the safety of our communities, while protecting our Second Amendment rights. As a gun owner who worked with others to constitutionally guarantee Virginians the right to hunt, I know that you can be a strong supporter of the Second Amendment without tolerating the gun tragedies that are too often a part of our daily lives.
Concerning specific proposals, I am a strong supporter of universal background record checks. This is the only way we can enforce existing laws that prohibit dangerous individuals from purchasing guns. I am open to supporting legislation placing reasonable limits on high capacity magazines, combat-style weapons and gun trafficking if they are carefully drafted.
Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as Congress continues to debate strategies to reduce gun violence. Thank you once again for contacting me.

 

[Ryanxia]

Even if you KNOW your rep is anti gun write them anyways. Can't hurt. At the very least waste the time of their helpers.

 

[hso]

Yes, write them regardless and tell them that you will be active during the next few election cycles either working to support them as they support us or for their opposition if they do not support us.

 

[HankR]

A phone call might be better than a letter, given the timing. Email next best, but it's getting late for snail mails.

 

[hso]

True, phone calls, then emails, followed by letters reach them in that order.

 

[Texshooter]

Have just written and left voice mail with my 2 Sen from Georgia letting them know how disappointed my family is they have abandoned their oath of office as well as being more concerned with what people in NY / CA / MA think rather than citiizens of Georgia.

 

[hso]

CALL the Senators and leave a clear concise message. They're just counting the number of people that call and support for or against.

The easiest way to find a senators’ phone number, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators’ and/or representative’s office.

Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment.

After identifying yourself, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message. Don't leave a rambling 2A rant, it won't help and you're just taking up time that more of us can call with a simple "Please tell the Senator that I want him to vote NO on provisions of Senator Reid's bill requiring Universal Background Checks. I don't want legislation requiring me to drive 10 miles and stand around for a half hour just to pay some guy at a gun shop with an FFL to run a background check on someone I've known forever so I can give my grandfather or grandson or uncle my prized rifle/pistol for their birthday!".

Remember they're counting constituent opinions and little more.