Make Sure you contact the US Congress about your Gun Opinions

[huntrights]

I received the same letter today.  However, it is good to know that our messages are getting through.

[crazysccrmd]

The ignorant rhetoric makes me want to vomit.

Yep. I still don't understand how these people can willfully ignore facts and logic when coming to these decisions. If someone wanted to ban handguns (which are used in the vast majority of firearm crimes) they would actually have a basis in fact for their arguments. I hate stupid people.

[washelkhunter]

I quote from cantdowell:  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in 17 Americans suffers from a seriously debilitating mental illness.
From her past and present performance i can only assume she is 1 of the 17. She seems to suffer from a severe case Cant Understand Normal Thinking.   

[aaronoto]

Has anyone ever talked to a representative on the phone or ever received a personal response besides the form letter in an email??

I've emailed on a few occasions on several issues and have received obvious form letter responses.  I seriously doubt they even read anything that's sent to them, really p!sses me off 

[csaaphill]

heres one from Waldon the Oregon senator so here I think we have an ally. I still have washington licence but moved to oregon so wrote them.
Thanks for contacting me with your thoughts on gun control laws in light of the recent shootings. 

 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families affected by these horrible tragedies in Clackamas and Newtown. As a father, I believe that we as a nation must work together to prevent these horrific acts of violence and address the underlying issues that cause them. 

 

Every two years, I raise my hand as your Representative and swear to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution.  That's an oath I take seriously.  The Second Amendment to the Constitution establishes a citizen's right to keep and bear arms, and I have always been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. 

 

The shooters in Oregon and Connecticut committed their crimes with stolen guns.  According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a majority of guns used by criminals are stolen, bought on the black market, or obtained in other illegal ways.  Another law is unlikely to deter these types of attacks which violate multiple laws to begin with.

 

I do think we can do more on the side of helping people with mental illness and those contemplating suicide.  I'm working with leaders in these communities to see what they think would be most effective. 

 

Thank you again for writing me about these issues. It's an honor to represent you in the U.S. Congress. 

 

[furbearer365]

Here's the response from Sen Cantwell. Unfortunately, no surprises here:

Dear Mr. W,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. 

All Washingtonians – and all Americans – offer our deepest condolences to the families of the 20 children and six school staff members who were killed in this senseless attack. Our thoughts and prayers are with the community of Newtown, as its residents heal from this incomprehensible tragedy.

This horrific attack highlights several issues that must be addressed promptly in order to better protect against such inexplicable violence.    We need to get powerful assault weapons off our streets.  And we need to strengthen services for the mentally ill and their families.

In the past, I supported the original Assault Weapons Ban and the Brady Bill, as well as the Youth Handgun Safety Act of 1993, which prohibits juveniles from possessing or receiving handguns. I look forward to work with my colleagues in the Senate to strengthen responsible legislation to rein in gun violence. We need to work to close the loopholes in existing laws that allow criminals and children to gain access to firearms contrary to the law's intention. One example is the well-known "gun-show loophole" which allows people to purchase firearms at gun-shows without undergoing the background check required when guns are bought from licensed dealers. Lastly, I believe we must support increased gun-safety and gun-use education.

I support the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding Washingtonians who own guns.  I also remain focused on addressing the deeply troubling violence in this country and making our state and our country as safe as possible for all people, including our most vulnerable citizens, our children. I believe both of these goals are important and can be simultaneously accomplished through common-sense gun laws and stricter enforcement of existing laws.

Along with addressing gun violence, making services for the mentally ill and their families more accessible will encourage those suffering from mental illness to seek needed care and support. Mental health care is a critical component of our healthcare system and an individual's overall health status. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in 17 Americans suffers from a seriously debilitating mental illness. I care deeply about mental health care and understand the important role behavioral health services play in the lives of both those suffer from mental illness and their family and loved ones.

Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator

I got the exact same one. WORD FOR WORD.           Cantwell

[pianoman9701]

Has anyone ever talked to a representative on the phone or ever received a personal response besides the form letter in an email??

I've emailed on a few occasions on several issues and have received obvious form letter responses.  I seriously doubt they even read anything that's sent to them, really p!sses me off 

I have, from Jaime Herrera Beutler. She's a conservative hottie and polls her constituents for their views. She's responded to me several times on specific points. I really like her.

[huntrights]

When our Representatives receive multiple communications on the same topic, they tend to create their form letter that will let you know where they stand on the issue whether it aligns with your position or not.  However, if they receive great volumes of communications that do not align with their view, they may change their position since they are supposed to represent their constituents.  Keep writing and remember to be respectful.

[crazysccrmd]

My reply to Cantwell.

.       I, along with many others, received your form letter response concerning gun control. I'm curious, did you even read the letter I wrote? I included factual evidence from the Center for Disease Control's "Deaths: Final Data for 2009" that shows firearm related deaths to be a fraction of the total deaths in our country. Furthermore, according to a US Department of Justice study "Firearm Use by Offender" published 4 November 2001 "Fewer than 1 in 50 State and Federal inmates used, carried, or possessed a military-style semiautomatic or a fully automatic gun during their current offense." You can find this information and a full description of what were considered military-style weapons on page two of the study.

I find it hard to reconcile some of your statements in the letter I received. You write "we need to get powerful assault weapons off our streets" and just two paragraphs later write "I support the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding Washingtonians who own guns." How are these two statements compatible? You want to ban the possession of firearms and somehow think you still support the Second Amendment? Please enlighten me on how that is possible.

I would like a response that is not a form letter. In fact, I would like to hear your rebuttals to my points so that I might believe you're at least trying to represent the interests of the citizens of Washington not your personal opinions.   

[GUscottie]

Email sent. I surely hope I don't get a canned email response.

[Wenatcheejay]

The same exact form letter. How deflating. It would be nice to know how many people recieved it.

[huntrights]

When our Representatives receive multiple communications on the same topic, they tend to create their form letter that will let you know where they stand on the issue whether it aligns with your position or not.  However, if they receive great volumes of communications that do not align with their view, they may change their position since they are supposed to represent their constituents.  Keep writing and remember to be respectful.

As discouraging as it is, form letters/emails are fairly common, but at least you know your communication was received and categorized.  Our representatives have staff that filter through the many communications their office receives.  Some of the communications may be read directly by the representatives or they may be presented to them in a staff meeting.  Your communications are important regardless of how much individual attention from the representative they may receive.  You can be certain that many people in the anti-gun ranks are writing many letters and emails to our representatives demanding stricter gun controls.  The best way bring balance and some sanity into the picture is to keep writing from our point of view and demand that our Second Amendment rights continue to be protected.  If our Right to Keep and Bear Arms is whittled away, the rest of the Bill of Rights and our Constitution are also at risk.

Rest assured that your individual communications make a difference; they come together with all of our communications to present a clear message to our representatives.  Keep writing those letters and emails, and making those phone calls.  Please be respectful in your communications.

[crazysccrmd]

      As discouraging as it is, form letters/emails are fairly common, but at least you know your communication was received and categorized. 

I'm hoping for at least a tally of pro vs anti to help show the where the populace stands. I still don't think her stance will be swayed, even if she received 80% support for no gun control.

[Wenatcheejay]

      As discouraging as it is, form letters/emails are fairly common, but at least you know your communication was received and categorized. 

I'm hoping for at least a tally of pro vs anti to help show the where the populace stands. I still don't think her stance will be swayed, even if she received 80% support for no gun control.

The question is could either a pro gun democrat or liberal canting (R) replace them if they will not yield their anti gun stance? Or do the Western hunters really support gun bans?

[GUscottie]

agenda vs facts:

Choose Your Own Crime Stats