reply i got today

[csaaphill]

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about legislation and actions being considered to address gun violence.  I appreciate hearing from you.

 

In the wake of the tragic mass shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary and right at home in Clackamas Town Center, I have heard a wide range of views from many Oregonians on gun policies and gun violence.  Indeed, I am deeply saddened by these senseless shootings and the loss of innocent lives.

 

As I consider proposed policies regarding guns, I will have two perspectives. As a supporter of the Second Amendment, I will ask if the proposals meet the constitutional test. Second, I will ask if the proposals will make a difference in the tragic situations we have witnessed.  In short, I will be digging into the facts and research about each of the proposals on the table with these perspectives in mind.

 

It is appropriate in light of the recent tragedies that this is a national discussion, and I'm glad you are sharing your thoughts with me.  I will keep your views in mind and hope you will keep me informed about the issues that concern you.   

least it's not a rubber stamp letter like the other ones I have gotten.

[csaaphill]

 

[longstevo]

From Senator Maria Cantwell,

Dear Mr. .............

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.

On January 16, 2012, President Obama announced a series of legislative proposals and executive action s . I applaud the President's efforts to close gun purchase loopholes, and to create new tools for further background checks.

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 who 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

[longstevo]

From Senator Patty Murray,

Dear  Mr. ........ :

Thank you for writing me regarding the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.  It was good to hear from you.

As a mother, grandmother, and former preschool teacher I was shocked by the tragedy that unfolded in Newtown.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the victims whose loss is difficult to comprehend.   

Unfortunately, this horrific tragedy was another in a long line of gun violence episodes that have ranged from places like Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Aurora to coffee shops in Lakewood to the corner of South Byron Street and McClintock Ave South in Seattle.  These episodes have plagued our cities, our schools, and our shared sense of security.  This cannot go on.  As a society we need to come together to begin a real conversation on all the factors contributing to those horrific instances of gun violence, but we also need to take specific action to bolster our current gun safety laws.

There is no question that we can and should limit access to the assault style weapons of war that are on our streets and that are too often being used to kill innocent people indiscriminately. I have repeatedly voted for an assault weapons ban and will do so again as soon as we can get a bill to the Senate floor. 

But preventing tragedies like the one in Newtown will take more than just common-sense gun policies and enforcement. It will also take a renewed commitment to understanding and dealing with the root causes that lead isolated individuals to carry out these atrocities.  At this moment, everything needs to be on the table for scrutiny. 

Our nation is at a crossroads moment, and we must take the path that protects future generations from re-living these gun violence tragedies over and over again.  It will take the courage of people with opposing views but a common purpose sitting down with one another and agreeing that the status quo is unacceptable.

Please be assured I will keep your views in mind as I work with my colleagues and please feel free to share with me your ideas on how to address this crisis. If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please feel free to sign up for my updates at  http://murrav.senate.gov/updates . Thank you for contacting me, and please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator

[netcoyote]

At least Cantwell's response mentions the mental health aspect. Murray, on the other hand, seems to be saying, "I've supported any assault weapons ban in the past and will blindly do so in the future regardless of whether it is an effective deterrent or not". "Oh yea, later on we can start to look at some underlying causes".
I have seen very little credible mention by politicians of looking into the linkage of prescription drugs and incidents of violent behavior. There seems to be an obvious common thread among a lot of the recent mass shootings by young white males.

[bearpaw]

They both need to go, they are not our allies....

[csaaphill]

lol ya but getting the votes to get them out is another.
I've hated the tenis shoe mom for years. Only good Murray did was that the vet hospitol here in Walla Walla.
Other than that she's worthless.

[atc250r18]

I received the same responses from both Murray and Cant-do-well.  In fact i received xeroxed responses from cantdowell even though I only sent one letter.  I hope my response to her Xeroxed response doesn't cost me my security clearance:-

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[atc250r18]

This was my letter to her second un wanted response to a letter  I never sent..

Ms. Cantwell,

I already recieved this same response a couple weeks ago, I however did not send you any more questions. This just shows me that you are not listening to what we say. All this message say's is you have some conforming person behind a desk sending out candid responses that don't answer the questions we ask. Thanks for wasting more of our money and forgeting your roll in our Congress. It saddens me that taxpayers will continure to pay you for a job you're not doing. I know asking you to do what I think is right is a waste of my time but that's exactly what you're supposed to do. This isn't about what you believe, it's about representing the people democratically, within the bounds of the constitution. The constitution is clear, "shall not be infringed".

This is not about keeping the kids safe anymore, it's about control. If it was about the kids you wouldn't support abortion. How many potential children are killed every year before they have a chance to be a first grader?

If it is about guns, why isn't Eric Holder in prison?

Thank you,

Douglas Neff

[washelkhunter]

Politics at its worst. As usu mc and murray will not deviate from the obummer agenda if even they had a -------- hmmm.

[Smossy]

They both need to go, they are not our allies....

[netcoyote]

They both need to go, they are not our allies....

As many of you know, they were both recently re-elected to another 6 year term. Cantwell in 2012 and Murray in 2010. Until the Seattle culture changes from it's extreme liberal ideology (not likely under the current conditions), they may continue to represent us until they decide to retire. That's the politics of WA.
I used to be opposed to term limits. I didn't like the idea of making another law to impose something that we have the ability to do by voting. No longer. We need a continuing refresh of new thinking on how to solve current problems, on both sides. It's just too easy for lazy voters to keep voting these idiots back into office, long past their expiration date. They get imbedded and beholden to financial interests that finance their campaigns and make it virtually impossibly for anyone else to successfully run against them. Time for a change.

[Atroxus]

They both need to go, they are not our allies....

As many of you know, they were both recently re-elected to another 6 year term. Cantwell in 2012 and Murray in 2010. Until the Seattle culture changes from it's extreme liberal ideology (not likely under the current conditions), they may continue to represent us until they decide to retire. That's the politics of WA.
I used to be opposed to term limits. I didn't like the idea of making another law to impose something that we have the ability to do by voting. No longer. We need a continuing refresh of new thinking on how to solve current problems, on both sides. It's just too easy for lazy voters to keep voting these idiots back into office, long past their expiration date. They get imbedded and beholden to financial interests that finance their campaigns and make it virtually impossibly for anyone else to successfully run against them. Time for a change.

  Reminds me of a quote...something about politicians and diapers both needing to be changed frequently...

[DaveBTS]

I think an electoral system would be better utilized on a state level. People like Murray & Cantwell would have never been elected

[gaddy]

basically the same responces i got. cantwell basically said she wants to close loop holes & that she supported obama & fienstiens plans & how she supports an assault weapons ban & the brady bill.
murray basically said thanks for contacting me, ill keep your thoughts in mind.