Like many of you, I have taken to writing my representatives and so on. I actually received a response from Rep. Joe Courtney (CT), and I thought I would share his response:
|
| Dear Ted, Thank you for contacting me regarding gun legislation in light of the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. I appreciate your comments and having the benefit of your views. I am deeply saddened by the loss of over two dozen lives, including the lives of 20 young children, in this senseless act. In the days since the attack, we have heard the powerful stories about Principal Dawn Hochsprung and the brave teachers that acted selflessly to protect their students. This senseless tragedy has touched all Americans and has once again raised concerns about the issues of gun safety here in America. Let me be clear, I am committed to protecting the Second Amendment rights of responsible, law-abiding gun owners. I also believe that there are many areas where we can find agreement on commonsense approaches to improving gun safety laws in our country. In the days following the shootings in Newtown, I have been contacted by many people on this issue – including gun owners who support ways to improve gun safety for our communities. While I appreciate the concerns that you and others have expressed with any changes to our nation's gun laws, it should be noted that even in upholding the constitutional rights of responsible gun owners the United States Supreme Court has also upheld the ability of our government to place restrictions on the use and sale of firearm. For example, in his majority opinion in the District of Columbia v. Dick Heller case, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia emphasized the following: "Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited... nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms." The majority opinion in the case, which supported the right of individuals in the District of Columbia to be able to keep firearms in their homes, also reaffirmed the right to restrict the purchase and sale of dangerous and unusual weapons. As you are aware, a number of legislative proposals are being considered that address the issue of gun safety. The scope of these bills varies from rules regarding purchase of guns and ammunition over the internet to the ability of individuals to purchase large magazines capable of holding multiple munitions, among other proposals. In addition, the Obama Administration – led by Vice President Joe Biden – has convened an inter-agency task force to determine how the federal government can improve gun safety. In the days and weeks ahead, we must commit ourselves to strive for a better nation and never forget these innocent souls. The best way to honor the memory of those who senselessly lost their lives in Sandy Hook is to make it harder for this to ever happen again. As President Obama so eloquently stated Sunday night, the test of a nation's values is whether we protect our children from this unspeakable violence. I stand ready to work with him to create a stronger system of public safety and mental healthcare. Again, thank you for sharing your views on this issue with me. Should you have any additional comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future. For more information on my work in Congress, please visit my website atcourtney.house.gov and sign up for my e-newsletter at courtney.house.gov/forms/emailsignup. You can also connect with me at facebook.com/joecourtney or receive updates from twitter.com/repjoecourtney.
|
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
![[rofl]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/013.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
