I was a little surprised to get a response, even if it is probably a form letter. I have met Senator Simpson several times at various opening at the museum and he is a great guy to talk to, down to earth and treats everyone with respect. I figured it was a waste of time sending him a letter given that he is from Idaho, where we can rock a full auto 50 cal all day every day if we want to, but at least now I have a little piece of mind.


January 23, 2013

Dear Jesse:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your views on gun ownership and the Second Amendment to the Constitution. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

Like most Americans, I was horrified to learn of the shootings that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, December 14, 2012, that took the lives of 26 people, 20 of whom were small children. This act of senseless violence in an elementary school has been difficult for anyone to understand, and I mourn with those who lost their children, family members, and friends in this tragedy.

Not surprisingly, this incident prompted instant debate on gun control and other political issues. While it is important to have this debate, it is imperative that we continue to also focus our energies on supporting the community that was devastated by this event.

The Second Amendment to the Constitution reads: “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” I firmly believe this provision prohibits the federal government from denying law-abiding citizens this right.

Therefore, I will not support bans on the ownership of firearms, or legislation that promotes or requires the rationing or taxation of firearms or ammunition. Contrary to the claims of gun control advocates, gun ownership is not the sole source of our gun-related crime problem. Illegal firearms trafficking and our “revolving door” justice system, and deficiencies in mental healthcare are significant contributing factors. I will continue to support legislation to reform our justice system to impose stiff sentences on criminals who use a gun while committing a crime. Individuals must understand that criminal behavior will not be tolerated, and will be met with grave penalties.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact me about this issue. As your representative in Congress, it is important to me to know your thoughts and opinions about issues affecting our nation today. I also encourage you to visit my website, www.house.gov/simpson, to sign up for my e-newsletter and to read more about my views on a variety of issues.

Sincerely,
Mike Simpson
Member of Congress

Thanks for posting...

Also thanks for writing him...

We all need to speak up to our Representatives...

At least he replied in a thoughtfu and honest answer. One asshat from MD replied to me that showed how much of a douche he is.

I'd vote for Mike.

Will he kick Ruppersberger in the nuts for us?

Next time I see him I'll ask, should be in May when we have an opening of new exhibits. Mike is a cool guy, he likes his beer and comes from a farming community so he appreciates hard work. First time I met him I had no clue who he was, we were just bullshitting and someone came up and addressed him as senator. He would probably enjoy kicking a few assholes in the nuts.

I got a letter back from Senator Mary Landrieu here in LA. It's not real encouraging, and borders on complete BS. I'll post it here in the morning.

January 24, 2013  

Dear Mr. C*******, 

Thank you for taking the time to contact me to express your support for preserving and protecting the Second Amendment of the Constitution. I appreciate hearing your concerns. As a father, I cannot begin to imagine the grief and pain of losing a loved one in such a senseless act. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families affected by the Newtown, Connecticut murders. Mass acts of violence like what occurred in Newtown demonstrate a coarsening of society that has come to devalue life at all stages. Fundamentally, however, the problem is not guns, it is people. Adam Lanza is the one who illegally stole guns from his mother and murdered 26 children and adults.   

I agree that Washington and all of America must have a serious debate and honest discussion about what fuels a very small segment of the population to inflict harm and instill fear. This means holding Hollywood accountable for its culture of violence and death. We should talk openly about mental health issues. And also be honest about the responsibilities of families and communities. Furthermore, Americans must demand the Obama Administration enforce current laws. New laws will not prevent criminals from engaging in illegal activity — but tougher enforcement and prosecution can make a difference.

In light of this tragedy, many have renewed their attacks on the Second Amendment rights of Americans like yourself. The Second Amendment, however, is non-negotiable. Congress must stand for the entirety of the Constitution. I am deeply concerned by President Obama’s willingness to abandon his sworn obligation to ‘preserve, protect, and defend’ the Constitution. Our Founding Fathers clearly outlined in the Constitution a desire for three branches of government--the executive, legislative, and judicial. Now the President seems to believe he fills not only the role of the executive branch, but also the legislative. I would remind President Obama that it is the exclusive right of Congress to write and pass laws. 

As a responsible and law-abiding gun owner, I am committed to standing behind the principles set forth by the Founding Fathers guaranteeing the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment. I oppose efforts by the Obama Administration to prescribe unnecessary, unproven, and unconstitutional gun control mandates on upstanding, law-abiding citizens. Please know that this issue remains a concern for me and I am committed to being engaged and vocal in protecting your Second Amendment rights in Washington. Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. If you have not already, I encourage you to take a moment to find me on Facebook (facebook.com/congressmanhuelskamp), follow my personal updates on Twitter (twitter.com/CongHuelskamp) and check out my latest speeches and media appearances on YouTube.

Sincerely,
Tim Huelskamp  
Member of Congress

This one is better:

Dear Mr. R:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut. On December 14, 2012, America was shocked to learn of the horrific massacre that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. As parents of two young children, my wife Jennifer and I are deeply saddened by this horrific tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the twenty young children and six faculty members who were murdered.
I wholeheartedly agree with you that we must do everything we can to prevent tragedies like this from happening. We must prosecute those who take the lives of others to the fullest extent of the law. I am also committed to making sure we have strong laws on the books and that we provide the resources necessary to law enforcement and the judicial system in order to make our communities, including our schools, safer. In addition, we need to do a better job of treating people with mental illnesses so they are properly diagnosed and treated.
I must say that restricting the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans will not reduce crime, but rather will only serve to undermine the ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves from criminals. You can’t stop bad people from doing bad things by taking away the rights of good people who follow the rules. We all need to work together to promote strong family units and the sanctity of human life. Let us all keep in our prayers these precious lives that were taken from us at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Thank you again for contacting me. It is an honor to represent the First Congressional District of Louisiana, and your thoughts and concerns are very important to me. I invite you to visit my website at www.scalise.house.gov for more information. Please do not hesitate to contact my office in the future on issues that are important to you
Sincerely,




Steve Scalise
Member of Congress
SS/gg

Some how this one gives me the chills. I don't trust her for a second:

Dear Mr. R:

My prayers and greatest sympathy go out to the families and community of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, and to all families that have been affected by gun violence. On December 14, 2012, twenty-seven innocent lives were taken from us in a heartbreaking tragedy. As the nation grieves over this senseless act of violence, it is more important than ever that we come together to address the issues affecting American communities.

The Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the rights of all Americans to own and possess guns. While preserving the rights of honest gun collectors, sportsmen and owners who possess firearms for traditionally lawful purposes, we must also continue to ensure that we protect innocent unarmed citizens. I am sure you can agree - like any right guaranteed to a free people, the right to bear arms must be exercised responsibly.

Unfortunately, in the past year, we have seen instances where this right has been abused in tragic fashion. The theater shooting in Aurora, CO, the Sikh temple shooting in Oak Creek, WI, and the school shooting in Newtown, CT, were terrible and unnecessary tragedies. Occurrences such as these remind me of the important role that government plays in upholding statutes that aim to limit such tragedies.

We must do more to target the causes of mental illness and determine the most effective ways to treat it. I support and will continue to strongly advocate for expanded and improved mental health coverage so that the mentally ill can obtain adequate treatment to not only overcome their struggles, but to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.

I also support strict adherence of federally licensed firearms dealers to the requirements laid out in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The NICS determines the eligibility of an individual to purchase a firearm and explicitly prohibits those who have been legally determined to be mentally ill or committed to a mental institution from purchasing any weapons.

Currently, there is no gun control legislation scheduled for a vote. However, I believe that when evaluating future proposals, we must find a balanced way to address the safety of American citizens while ensuring Second Amendment rights granted under the Constitution. Please be assured that I value your input and will keep it in mind as we continue to address this issue in the 113th Congress.

I appreciate hearing from you on this matter, and I trust that you will continue to contact me on matters of mutual concern. Please feel free to visit my website at http://landrieu.senate.gov for more information on my legislative priorities.

With warm regards, I am

Sincerely,



Mary Landrieu
United States Senator

This is the kind of response I like to see:

Dear Mr. R,

Thank you for contacting me in opposition to the United Nations Small Arms Treaty. I appreciate your thoughts on this important issue, and I agree with you.

As you know, this treaty could lead to international tracking certificates, implementation of national registries, and tracking lists of all legal firearms in the United States. If agreed to by the United Nations, the U.S. Senate must ratify the treaty by a two-thirds majority before it could take effect for the United States .

You may be pleased to know that during the 112 th Congress, I cosponsored the Second Amendment Sovereignty Act, a bill that would prohibit funding for negotiations of the Arms Trade Treaty if it would restrict the Second Amendment rights of United States citizens. Additionally, I joined 50 other Senators in a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton on July 26, 2012, to express our continuing concerns over the treaty's substance. The letter states that we will not ratify a treaty that restricts the rights of United States citizens to manufacture, assemble, possess, transfer, or purchase firearms, ammunition, or any related item.

I believe that we must continue working diligently to protect our right to keep and bear arms. Rest assured that I will oppose any effort to enable international organizations to infringe on our constitutional rights.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about other issues important to you.


Sincerely,


Senator David Vitter
United States Senator