Not that this is a big shocker from Rep. Visclosky, but here it is. For those who don't know, he is the representative for district 1 (Lake and Porter County) and is a democrat. I'll let you reserve your own judgement, but I did tell him my concerns that the Second Amendment was designed to protect us from the Government, and that they have standard capacity magazines, and so should we. I also encouraged him to look at the violent crime trends during the instatement and sunset of the 1994 AWB. I then gave him the answer that there was no statistically significant change that supported that the AWB did anything.
Representative Pete Visclosky:
"DearMatthew:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent shooting in Connecticut. I appreciate hearing from you.
While I support the possession of legal firearms by responsible law abiding citizens, I am opposed to the availability of military assault weapons andhigh-capacity ammunition magazines, which pose serious threats to public safety and the law enforcement officers who risk their lives protecting us. I believe that there are certain actions we can take to ensure that adequate safety protections exist to reduce the overall level of violence in this country, which in no way means that people shouldn't continue to enjoy their second amendment rights.
That is why, in the 103rdCongress, I supported the assault weapons ban, which prohibited the manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons, including those with a large capacity ammunition feeding device. I deeply regret that President Bush allowed this ban to expire in 2004. Also in the 103rdCongress, I supported passage of the Brady Act, currently known as the national instant criminal background check system, which requires background checks for all firearm transfers and purchases.
In the 112thCongress, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy has introduced H.R. 308, the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act, which would reinstate the ban on semiautomatic weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. Because the 112thCongress will adjourn shortly, this measure is not expected to receive consideration. However, Rep. McCarthy has indicated that she will reintroduce this legislation in the 113thCongress. Should Rep. McCarthy formally reintroduce this legislation, I assure you that I will monitor it with your views in mind.
As the nation continues to make sense of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, I hope that our country will have a serious and thoughtful discussion to ensure that we find a proper balance between Americans' right to own guns and the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Specific to security in schools, be assured that I share your concerns. However, I would note that it is the responsibility of local school boards to determine what actions are necessary to ensure the safety and security of students in our schools. Therefore I would encourage you to contact your local county school board to express your concerns on this issue.
Thank you again for contacting me. Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Visclosky
Member of Congress"
Representative Pete Visclosky:
"DearMatthew:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent shooting in Connecticut. I appreciate hearing from you.
I was shocked and heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The fact that so many victims were the most innocent among us, children, weighs heavily upon my heart as well as those of every American. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims of these attacks and their families for their unfathomable loss. As this marks the seventh mass shooting in the United States in 2012 alone, I firmly believe that Congress must take decisive action to prevent such senseless tragedies from happening again. While I support the possession of legal firearms by responsible law abiding citizens, I am opposed to the availability of military assault weapons andhigh-capacity ammunition magazines, which pose serious threats to public safety and the law enforcement officers who risk their lives protecting us. I believe that there are certain actions we can take to ensure that adequate safety protections exist to reduce the overall level of violence in this country, which in no way means that people shouldn't continue to enjoy their second amendment rights.
That is why, in the 103rdCongress, I supported the assault weapons ban, which prohibited the manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons, including those with a large capacity ammunition feeding device. I deeply regret that President Bush allowed this ban to expire in 2004. Also in the 103rdCongress, I supported passage of the Brady Act, currently known as the national instant criminal background check system, which requires background checks for all firearm transfers and purchases.
In the 112thCongress, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy has introduced H.R. 308, the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act, which would reinstate the ban on semiautomatic weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. Because the 112thCongress will adjourn shortly, this measure is not expected to receive consideration. However, Rep. McCarthy has indicated that she will reintroduce this legislation in the 113thCongress. Should Rep. McCarthy formally reintroduce this legislation, I assure you that I will monitor it with your views in mind.
As the nation continues to make sense of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, I hope that our country will have a serious and thoughtful discussion to ensure that we find a proper balance between Americans' right to own guns and the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Specific to security in schools, be assured that I share your concerns. However, I would note that it is the responsibility of local school boards to determine what actions are necessary to ensure the safety and security of students in our schools. Therefore I would encourage you to contact your local county school board to express your concerns on this issue.
Thank you again for contacting me. Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Visclosky
Member of Congress"
