I'm sure a lot of you have probably received the same email if ya filled out info to send emails to the politicians..but first you'll see Obama's email followed by my response
Dear Ronald:
Thank you for taking the time to write. I have heard from many Americans regarding firearms policy and gun violence in our Nation, and I appreciate your perspective. From Aurora to Newtown to the streets of Chicago, we have seen the devastating effects gun violence has on our American family. I join countless others in grieving for all those whose lives have been taken too soon by gun violence.
Like the majority of Americans, I believe the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. In this country, we have a strong tradition of gun ownership that has been handed down from generation to generation. Hunting and sport shooting are part of our national heritage. Yet, even as we acknowledge that almost all gun owners in America are responsible, when we look at the devastation caused by gun violence—whether in high-profile tragedies or the daily heartbreak that plagues our cities—we must ask ourselves whether we are doing enough.
While reducing gun violence is a complicated challenge, protecting our children from harm should not be a divisive one. Most gun owners agree that we can respect the Second Amendment while keeping an irresponsible, law-breaking few from inflicting harm on a massive scale. Most also agree that if we took commonsense steps to curtail gun violence, there would be fewer atrocities like the one that occurred in Newtown. We will not be able to stop every violent act, but if there is even one thing we can do to reduce gun violence—if even one life can be saved—then we have an obligation to try.
That is why I asked Vice President Joe Biden to identify concrete steps we can take to keep our children safe, help prevent mass shootings, and reduce the broader epidemic of gun violence in this country. He met with over 200 groups representing a broad cross-section of Americans and heard their best ideas. I have put forward a specific set of proposals based off of his efforts, and in the days ahead, I intend to use whatever weight this office holds to make them a reality.
My plan gives law enforcement, schools, mental health professionals, and the public health community some of the tools they need to help reduce gun violence. These tools include strengthening the background check system, helping schools hire more resource officers and counselors and develop emergency preparedness plans, and ensuring mental health professionals know their options for reporting threats of violence. And I directed the Centers for Disease Control to study the best ways to reduce gun violence—because it is critical that we understand the science behind this public health crisis.
As important as these steps are, they are not a substitute for action from Congress. To make a real and lasting difference, members of Congress must also act. As part of my comprehensive plan, I have called on them to pass some specific proposals right away. First, it is time to require a universal background check for anyone trying to buy a gun. Second, Congress should renew the 10-round limit on magazines and reinstate and strengthen the assault weapons ban. We should get tougher on those who buy guns with the purpose of selling them to criminals, and we should impose serious punishments on anyone who helps them do this.
These are reasonable, commonsense measures that have the support of the majority of the American people. But change will not come unless the American people demand it from their lawmakers. Now is the time to do the right thing for our children, our communities, and the country we love. We owe the victims of heartbreaking national tragedies and the countless unheralded tragedies each year nothing less than our best effort—to seek consensus in order to save lives and ensure a brighter future for our children.
Thank you, again, for writing. I encourage you to visit Link Removed to learn more about my Administration’s approach.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
Let me begin with your statement " I believe the second amendment guarantees an individual the right to bear arms" the problem with this is you are stopping a little short, combining a truth with a half truth. Of course the majority of Americans believe in the right to bear arms, yet equally, those same americans also believe that that right shall not be infringed!! So it would've been nice to here you state in completion, your omission of not being infringed tells me you do not believe that part of the second amendment. Yes we Americans do have a strong tradition of handing guns down from generation to generation. In which, your new proposals would make illegal!!
Yes of course reducing gun violence is complicated and we are obligated to try. But let's begin by trying to enforce the thousands of gun laws that are not enforced now, lets begin there. The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, expecting different results. We know firearm bans didn't work in the past. And as for the government trying to force gun registration, well frankly it's not the government's business what guns law abiding citizens own, and there is a reason for that. Therefore supplying schools with armed security, (the same luxury granted to your children everyday) or armed, trained staff members could possibly make a difference, if even one life can be saved--Again we are obligated to try. Right? Nothing you are proposing will make a bit of difference, BAD GUYS don't follow the law..
Now, Joe Biden, (who apparently has not a clue on firearm laws or safety, suggests on live television to, a) discharge a firearm into the air and, b) fire a gun through a door. What a quick way to turn a law abiding citizen into a felon, and contribute to the very thing YOU are trying to prevent.) Myself and most Americans would like to see a list of the 200 plus groups that represent such a broad cross-section of Americans that Joe Biden met with if indeed he actually met with that many, and were any of them conservative, pro gun, or believe whole heartedly in the entire 2nd amendment?
Your plans are doing nothing but making it tougher for law abiding citizens to protect themselves, their family, their neighbors, or anyone else who crosses paths with a crazed gunman or bad guy. There are many ways WE could make a lasting difference, besides infringing on our rights. Don't try passing the buck onto congress, luckily the majority of them believe in the entire 2nd amendment. You say you have called on them to pass some specifics proposals right away, as though they are your constituents. Telling people how many rounds they can have and what types of guns they can have is nothing short of infringement (limiting or changing). These guns you keep referring to as assault weapons are not classified as such, though you keep calling them assault weapons as to put fear into people. One trigger squeeze, one bullet fired is not considered an assault weapon, on the other hand, one trigger squeeze, and many bullets would constitute an assault weapon, which I believe a person can own if licensed. There is not one item about an AR-15 that makes it any more dangerous than its counterpart with out a pistol grip.
