response from Leahy

[Foxxtrot]

I melted down on this poor guy a few weeks back about the Mexico thing and the 2A in general. Here is his response.






 

Thank you for contacting me about Attorney General Eric Holder's discussion of the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban.  I appreciate hearing from you.

 

On February 25, Attorney General Holder held a press conference on recent federal arrests of alleged drug cartel members and the seizure of millions of dollars in drug proceeds and millions more in actual drugs.  During Attorney General Holder's discussion of the crippling drug-related violence that has ravaged Mexico over the past year, a reporter asked Mr. Holder how the U.S. was helping to stem the influx of heavy weapons being used by drug cartel members against government forces.  Among other options being explored, Mr. Holder referenced the potential reinstatement of the assault weapons ban that President Obama had supported during his campaign.

 

I am skeptical that a renewal of the assault weapons ban will reduce violent crime. When the ban was in effect, many firearm manufacturers made cosmetic changes to their firearms to avoid being covered by the ban. I believe there are more effective ways to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.

 

I am neither a member of any groups that support either side of the gun control debate, nor do I agree with any one philosophy regarding gun control.  I do believe, however, that Congress has a responsibility to pass effective crime control legislation which will actually do something to eliminate crime and protect the public from violence.  It is important to ensure that American citizens are not giving aid, intentionally or unintentionally, to drug cartels and enemies of our neighbors.

 

As a native Vermonter, I grew up hunting and fishing and these experiences influence my approach to gun control issues.  I have owned firearms since I was 14 years old and often enjoy target shooting with my friends and family in Vermont.  I understand that the vast majority of gun owners in Vermont and around the country use and enjoy their firearms in a responsible and safe way, and I do not support efforts to ban the transfer of firearms between law abiding citizens or to require national registration of firearms.

 

I consider legislative proposals regarding gun control on the merits of those proposals and vote on them accordingly.  Should the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban or any similar legislation come before the Senate, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.

 

Thank you again for contacting me.  Please keep in touch.

 

Patrick Leahy
PATRICK LEAHY
United States Senator

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[kitchawan kid]

He left alot of "wiggle" room,but at least he replied.What are those HEAVY weapons he talks about?
'

[Skunk]

He left a lot of "wiggle" room...

Yes, he sure did. For example, he makes it sound like the weapons ban was stupid not because it violated the 2nd Amendment, rather, because manufacturers could easily get around it. He makes no firm commitment to opposing gun control. He acknowledges the use of guns for hunting, but makes no reference to them as a means to defend our families and our liberty. I think he needs a little more heat put on him, Foxxtrot. 

[Foxxtrot]

I type about fifty letters a week and around 30 or so emails to the whole lot of them crooks. Leahy is still a lib, but he isn't Pelosi. He is an old guy and watching him with Holder on the confirmation....well he seemed to be getting answers he wanted to hear. No tough question or hard line stance. All these crooks on the hill play a DC game of car dodging with our tax dollars and our votes. As things get worse, and it seems as if they will, the heat from everyone will be flaming hot. When you don't have a job, you can spend all day thinking about how these guys/gals are using our tax dollars for pet projects and new laws to change laws than were never enforced in the first place. I think this economic spiral of death may wake some people up.