Utahns: What is Bob Bennett's 2A stand?

[BHPshooter]

I have written him numerous times about the AWB, but can only think of hearing back from him once... and it was sort of an ambiguous response at that.

What is his stand?

Wes

 

[Doug444]

Bob Bennett's 2A stance is pretty much the same as most Utahns'...Pro with a few (IMO minor) qualifiers. I haven't contacted his office recently, but his voting record is probably a solid "B" with the NRA and/or GOA. He knows that, despite what the local rags might claim with their "polls", the majority of his constituents are NOT in favor of additional gun rights erosions. I can't remember how he voted on the original AWB, but I've never heard him actively support any gun control bills.

Other Utahns who are more politically astute, connected, observant, whatever, may have more current information.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Actually as of 2003, Bennett has a GOA rating of D.

He voted with us in March for the most part though and voted against background checks on private sales, against renewal of the semi-auto ban and against Kennedy's centerfire ammo ban.

He did support Boxer's amendment for the mandatory sale of gun locks with firearms.

 

[BHPshooter]

They gave Orrin Hatch a C-.

While I'll admit he's no Ron Paul, he has always seemed to be pretty pro-gun to me.

At least he's solidly against the AWB, which is what I'm primarily concerned about.

Wes

 

[Car Knocker]

Here are a couple of excerpts from letters that Bennet's office sent me regarding firearms legislation:

2/27/2004....."I voted against the ban in the 1994 omnibus crime bill. While it is not clear whether there will be a vote by the full Senate to extend the ban, I anticipate voting against the ban, as I did in 1994."

4/8/2004....."I believe that manufacturers of firearms and ammunition should not be held liable for the unlawful use of their product......Although I recognize the harm that guns can inflict when used in criminal acts, the problem does not lie with the firearms manufacturers, but rather with bad actors who use a lawful product in an unlawful manner. Holding the manufacturer liable for such a use sets a poor precedent."

 

[Doug444]

Thanks for the updates, and for some reason I guess I'm not surprised with the GOA rating. Anyone know how Congressman Mathesson's rated? He's a Democrat from Utah.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Anyone know how Congressman Mathesson's rated? He's a Democrat from Utah.

C rated.

http://www.gunowners.org/108hrat.htm
http://www.gunowners.org/108srat.htm

 

[Doug444]

Hmmm...better than Hatch. Now THAT's sad.

 

[mordrid52]

Both of them are definately compromisers, although they have been behaving lately. Hatch currently has a 3% rating from the Brady campaign and Bennett has an 11% rating. I would imagine Hatch especially has been getting massive amounts of mail and calls from Utah gun owners.

Here's a short article about the Juvenile Crime Bill that Hatch worked hard to get passed several years ago.
http://www.gunowners.org/op0011.htm

Not exactly a pro-gun bill .

Here is an interesting article from 2000 that talks about how the NRA vs the GOA viewed Hatch.
http://www.gunowners.org/op0011.htm

As for Mathesson, you have to remember that he only won with 51% of the vote in the most liberal part of the state against an opponent who got screwed over by the RNC money-wise. He's pretty much forced to be a moderate whether he wants to be or not, at least if he wants any chance of being reelected. He is at exactly 50% with the Brady Campaign and a C with GOA.

 

[LoveMy45]

Here is the original H.R.3355 bill status and summary for the AWB. This leads to the voting records on that bill. Both Senators Hatch and Bennett voted against it.

More recently, when S.1805 - Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act was being debated, Senators Hatch and Bennett both voted against the amendment to renew the AWB. Check out the vote records on the amendments that were voted on for that bill:

S.Amdt.2637 - Fienstien's attempt to renew the AWB
Hatch: Nay
Bennett: Nay

S.Amdt.2636 - McCain's attempt to shut down gun shows
Hatch: Nay
Bennett: Nay

S.Amdt.2620 - To require the provision of a child safety lock in connection with the transfer of a handgun.
Hatch: Nay
Bennett: Yea :banghead:

S.Amdt.2623 - exempt qualified current and former law enforcement officers from State laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed handguns
Hatch: Yea
Bennett: Yea


I've also received a reply from Senator Bennett when I wrote to him about the AWB. His reply seemed kind of lukewarm to me, but you can see how he voted in March.

The replies that I've received from Senator Hatch, on the other hand, have been strongly worded in support of the 2A and against the renewal of the AWB.

Hopefully, Senator Hatch has reconsidered his ill-advised juvenile crime bill discussed by Larry Pratt.

Another thing to consider about Senator Hatch, is the fact that he chaired The Subcommittee On The Constitution of the United States Senate (Ninety-Seventh Congress - Feb 1982) which issued a report: The Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Read that report. Quite impressive. Pay attention to Senator Hatch's preface.

 

[BHPshooter]

Another thing to consider about Senator Hatch, is the fact that he chaired The Subcommittee On The Constitution of the United States Senate (Ninety-Seventh Congress - Feb 1982)

Yeah, that's why I was shocked to find out about his GOA rating.

Thanks for the replies. I'm feeling (somewhat) comfortable that the AWB will die... unless "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" plays out sometime in the next 2 weeks.

Wes