Thank you for contacting me about gun-related legislation. I appreciate learning your thoughts about this important matter.
A number of horrific shooting events have occurred across our country that have shocked our nation. My thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and families who were affected by these senseless acts of violence. I wish the survivors well in their continued recovery.
These tragedies have renewed public debate over federal gun control policy. There are no simple answers to senseless violence, but I believe that there are commonsense solutions to these complex issues. We will need to have continued dialogue from all viewpoints about gun policy, including from gun rights advocates as well as victims’ groups, mental health professionals, and law enforcement agencies. I have long advocated for the safe, responsible use of firearms and I have fought to ensure that our mental health programs have had the resources they need to be effective.
As you may know, on January 16, 2013, President Obama announced his plan to reduce gun violence. The plan includes 23 executive actions that direct his administration to strengthen the background check system, conduct gun violence research, clarify federal laws regarding potential violence of individuals with a mental illness, and increase school resource officers. The plan also outlined a number of gun control recommendations to Congress to further reduce gun violence, including closing background check loopholes, restoring a ban on military-style assault weapons, imposing a 10-round limit on ammunition magazines, and enacting stricter penalties of illegal gun transfers and trafficking.
A number of bills have already been introduced relating to assault rifles, ammunition capacity, gun show sales, and mental health, among other topics. I will continue to support legislation that protects the lawful use of firearms. As a fourth generation South Dakotan and a hunter myself, I fully recognize that hunting, target shooting, and gun ownership are important and positive parts of our tradition and culture.
As a former prosecutor, I appreciate the need for aggressive enforcement of existing laws against those who abuse their rights to gun ownership. I support efforts to keep guns out of the hands of felons, small children and people with certain types of mental impairments that make them a danger to themselves or others. I believe this can be done with minimal interference to the great majority of responsible, adult gun owners. There will be less pressure to take guns away from law-abiding citizens if the public feels that reasonable efforts are being made to prevent convicted felons, suspected terrorists, and severely mentally ill people from having access to firearms. Please be assured that I will closely review all gun-related measures the Senate considers during the 113th Congress.
Thanks again for contacting me, and please keep in touch!
