Posted: 1/31/2013 10:17:12 AM EDT
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Dear GI_Brat
Thank you for contacting me regarding federal firearms laws. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter. As a strong proponent of the Second Amendment, I believe it is essential to safeguard the law-abiding citizen's constitutional right to own and use firearms designed for legitimate purposes such as hunting, target shooting, collecting, and self-protection. Restricting this right runs counter to the intent of our Founding Fathers, who expressly guaranteed that citizens would retain the right to keep and bear arms. It is encouraging that the Supreme Court has upheld the will of our Founders and re-affirmed the ideals our country was established upon. The Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller provides a greater guarantee that Americans' Constitutional rights remain secure from federal government intrusion. I was proud to sign an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in that case stating an individual’s right to bear arms is fundamental. This historic ruling continues to have implications far beyond the District of Columbia. In 2010, the Supreme Court decided in McDonald v. City of Chicago to strike down the arbitrary gun ban in Chicago—and thereby affirm that the Second Amendment safeguards against state and local encroachments on the fundamental right to keep and bear arms. As a former Texas Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General, I have firsthand knowledge of crime-fighting policies that work, and I believe that citizens' Second Amendment rights should not be restricted because of the actions of criminals. Rather, we must focus our attention on the source of violent crime: criminals who use firearms to commit crimes. I believe that strictly enforcing the law—and meting out tougher sentences for career criminals and those who use firearms when committing crimes—will reduce crime more effectively than gun or equipment bans, which primarily serve to take firearms away from law-abiding citizens. I appreciate the opportunity to represent Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will continue working with my colleagues to protect our Second Amendment rights. Thank you for taking the time to contact me. Sincerely, JOHN CORNYN United States Senator 517 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Tel: (202) 224-2934 Fax: (202) 228-2856 http://www.cornyn.senate.gov |
| Same here. I appreciate that these folks are probably swamped with contacts, so individual responses just aren't feasible. Drafting a few somewhat broad responses and having your staff sort the inbound communications to the response that best fits is probably the best you can do. |
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Cornyn calls for DOJ and other federal agencies to enforce the existing gun laws, etc.
Comments from TSRA: Few industries and fewer products are as restricted and regulated as the firearms industry and firearms ownership. From the time a frame is manufactured through the retail sales process and beyond, every step is covered by layers of state and federal law and government oversight. Current law is not being enforced and criminals are not being punished. In 1998, Robyn Anderson purchased a rifle and 2 shotguns for her friends, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Twelve students a one teacher were murdered in April 1999 as a result of her involvement. She was not arrested, tried or punished. This is not an isolated case. JOHN CORNYN United States Senator-Texas For Immediate Release CONTACT: Megan Mitchell, (202) 224-0704 Drew Brandewie, (202) 224-0703 Wednesday, January 30, 2013 WASHINGTON - In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called on the Committee to hold hearings on the recent drop in gun crime prosecutions by federal law enforcement agencies. "I have a hard time telling my constituents in Texas that Congress is looking at passing a whole raft of new laws, when the laws that we currently have on the books are so woefully unenforced. "Gun crime prosecutions are down across the board, including enforcement of laws against lying on background checks. "I hope we'll have a hearing where we'll ask Administration witnesses to come before the panel and to testify why the Department of Justice and other law enforcement agencies of the federal government are not enforcing the laws that Congress has already passed. "There are areas where Congress can come together, right now, to examine the nexus between gun crime, violence, and mental healthcare. "I'm willing to listen to serious ideas - not just window dressing - to try to come up with solutions." Senator Cornyn serves on the Finance and Judiciary Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge. |