Response from Rep Schakowsky AND MINE!
I did the Ruger letter my Representative and I thought the response was WRONG. Granted my "please no gun control" letter was stock and so was her answer, but I feel she doesn't understand her job.
Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to gun-related legislation. I appreciate hearing from you.
We have a responsibility to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous individuals. The recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school was an unimaginable tragedy, and I strongly believe the government must act to protect the rights of all Americans - men, women, and children - to live lives free of fear of gun violence.
I strongly support the comprehensive package of gun violence prevention measures unveiled by President Obama on January 16, 2013. The President called on Congress to reinstate and strengthen a ban on assault weapons, as well as on high-capacity magazines. He asked Congress to pass laws requiring a background check on all gun sales and to make gun trafficking a federal crime. The President also announced 23 executive actions to improve enforcement of existing laws, improve the database used for background checks, and otherwise improve the U.S. government's existing efforts to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. This is not an effort to take safe guns away from lawful gun owners - it is a package of common sense proposals to keep our communities safer.
I think that gun legislation is a critical part of the conversation, but it's not the whole answer. I also believe we need to improve mental health services. In the wake of Newtown, I think it is critical that we work to ensure that mentally ill individuals are not further stigmatized or assumed to be universally dangerous and violent, but it's also important that we ensure that all Americans have access to quality mental health care in their communities. Mental illness is not the cause of most crimes, but we may be able to prevent some future tragedies by providing better care and services. We also need a comprehensive discussion about violence in our movies and video games.
The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school is a heartbreaking tragedy but it is far from an isolated incident. There have been at least 62 gun massacres in the United States in the last three decades. Last year, gunmen killed twelve people at a movie theater in Colorado, two at a mall in Oregon, six at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and five at a factory in Minnesota. Beyond mass shootings, an average of 30,000 Americans die as a result of gun violence every year, including almost 3,000 children. Tens of thousands more are wounded. Children in the United States are 13 times more likely to be killed by gun violence than children in other industrialized countries. That is absolutely unacceptable, and it is clear that we need to take action. I will work with my colleagues in Congress, and with the Administration, to pass real gun safety legislation that protects our children and our communities.
Although we disagree on this issue, it was good to hear from you. Please contact me whenever I can be of assistance.
My response:
To: "U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky" <us.rep.schakowsky@mail.house.gov>
Subject: Re: Your recent message
> Although we disagree on this issue, it was good to hear from you. Please contact me whenever I can be of assistance.
WRONG. Yes, it is fine that we disagree, but you were hired to REPRESENT ALL your constituents and are to uphold the Constitution. It does not matter what Barry Obama or the Chinese or Ahmadinejad wants, or even what you want. You need to poll your region and act as a REPRESENTATIVE, not just suck up to the arrogant, immature, self-centered idiot liar-in-chief.
The Founding Fathers wanted citizens to be able to defend themselves from a tyrannical government and specifically wrote "shall not be infringed." This clause was added specifically at the request of states that would otherwise not join the union. There should be citizens armed in the same capacity as the government or else this entire Amendment has no meaning. How can a "well regulated militia" -the people- fight for the Constitution with even more limits when the Feds start acting like Hitler? We should preserve the intent of the Constitution- it is not a living document or in need of change. I was a protester over Viet Nam, but a decade later I realized the beauty of the original plan for this country. The problem isn't the constitutional foundation, and the solution is never more laws.
Please enforce the laws you already have and you won't need more. You can't even tell me which of the shootings you cite as justification for your proposed control were committed by LEGAL gun owners or ILLEGAL gang-bangers, because apparently no one tracks that information. (I really doubt that's true; its just that the facts wouldn't support gun control legislation.)
The top 20 gun-violent cities ALREADY have the most limiting gun laws (and have all been under Democratic control for decades; see Chicago). Cities and countries with liberal gun ownership laws have the least gun violence. Duh, gun control doesn't work to curb gun violence. Tthe problem is that it is politically incorrect to jail the real offenders while politicians love to use children to push their agenda.
Feel free to contact me with facts that support your position.
Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to gun-related legislation. I appreciate hearing from you.
We have a responsibility to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous individuals. The recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school was an unimaginable tragedy, and I strongly believe the government must act to protect the rights of all Americans - men, women, and children - to live lives free of fear of gun violence.
I strongly support the comprehensive package of gun violence prevention measures unveiled by President Obama on January 16, 2013. The President called on Congress to reinstate and strengthen a ban on assault weapons, as well as on high-capacity magazines. He asked Congress to pass laws requiring a background check on all gun sales and to make gun trafficking a federal crime. The President also announced 23 executive actions to improve enforcement of existing laws, improve the database used for background checks, and otherwise improve the U.S. government's existing efforts to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. This is not an effort to take safe guns away from lawful gun owners - it is a package of common sense proposals to keep our communities safer.
I think that gun legislation is a critical part of the conversation, but it's not the whole answer. I also believe we need to improve mental health services. In the wake of Newtown, I think it is critical that we work to ensure that mentally ill individuals are not further stigmatized or assumed to be universally dangerous and violent, but it's also important that we ensure that all Americans have access to quality mental health care in their communities. Mental illness is not the cause of most crimes, but we may be able to prevent some future tragedies by providing better care and services. We also need a comprehensive discussion about violence in our movies and video games.
The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school is a heartbreaking tragedy but it is far from an isolated incident. There have been at least 62 gun massacres in the United States in the last three decades. Last year, gunmen killed twelve people at a movie theater in Colorado, two at a mall in Oregon, six at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and five at a factory in Minnesota. Beyond mass shootings, an average of 30,000 Americans die as a result of gun violence every year, including almost 3,000 children. Tens of thousands more are wounded. Children in the United States are 13 times more likely to be killed by gun violence than children in other industrialized countries. That is absolutely unacceptable, and it is clear that we need to take action. I will work with my colleagues in Congress, and with the Administration, to pass real gun safety legislation that protects our children and our communities.
Although we disagree on this issue, it was good to hear from you. Please contact me whenever I can be of assistance.
My response:
To: "U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky" <us.rep.schakowsky@mail.house.gov>
Subject: Re: Your recent message
> Although we disagree on this issue, it was good to hear from you. Please contact me whenever I can be of assistance.
WRONG. Yes, it is fine that we disagree, but you were hired to REPRESENT ALL your constituents and are to uphold the Constitution. It does not matter what Barry Obama or the Chinese or Ahmadinejad wants, or even what you want. You need to poll your region and act as a REPRESENTATIVE, not just suck up to the arrogant, immature, self-centered idiot liar-in-chief.
The Founding Fathers wanted citizens to be able to defend themselves from a tyrannical government and specifically wrote "shall not be infringed." This clause was added specifically at the request of states that would otherwise not join the union. There should be citizens armed in the same capacity as the government or else this entire Amendment has no meaning. How can a "well regulated militia" -the people- fight for the Constitution with even more limits when the Feds start acting like Hitler? We should preserve the intent of the Constitution- it is not a living document or in need of change. I was a protester over Viet Nam, but a decade later I realized the beauty of the original plan for this country. The problem isn't the constitutional foundation, and the solution is never more laws.
Please enforce the laws you already have and you won't need more. You can't even tell me which of the shootings you cite as justification for your proposed control were committed by LEGAL gun owners or ILLEGAL gang-bangers, because apparently no one tracks that information. (I really doubt that's true; its just that the facts wouldn't support gun control legislation.)
The top 20 gun-violent cities ALREADY have the most limiting gun laws (and have all been under Democratic control for decades; see Chicago). Cities and countries with liberal gun ownership laws have the least gun violence. Duh, gun control doesn't work to curb gun violence. Tthe problem is that it is politically incorrect to jail the real offenders while politicians love to use children to push their agenda.
Feel free to contact me with facts that support your position.
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Damn, I forgot to ride this one:
We have a responsibility to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous individuals. The recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school was an unimaginable tragedy, and I strongly believe the government must act to protect the rights of all Americans - men, women, and children - to live lives free of fear of gun violence.
No, you don't. Current gun law hasn't kept guns from criminals and never will. No one I know needs a nanny, especially one that fails 95% of the time (government mortgage companies, the paper housing crash, the jobless over-regulated economy, post office, EPA, exploded IRS, healthcare stupidity, and, oh, the protection of ambassadors). Perhaps create an environment that promotes families and not more welfare for single mothers. Teach personal responsibility in school.
Perhaps this issue is just a distraction from the real failings of this government. Perhaps its a big nail in the coffin of liberty. Either is a bad road that politicians are often found on.
What standards would you place on mental health? Who decides? Like hussein-care operators will tell me I'm old and to prepare for end-of-life?
(Oh, will I be on some list now that I've voiced my opinion?)0 -
FWIW, using words like 'idiot liar-in-chief' do nothing be ensure that your letter is never read.
If you're goal is to thump your own chest, you may have succeeded. If your goal is influence in any way, shape, or form, you have not.0 -
By sending the Ruger letter you have told your representative that you like background checks.[xx(][V] 0 -
Yeah, you're all right. I was just pissed that she blew me off and felt no compulsion to represent her people. 0 -
You spoke your mind. Ain't nothin' wrong with that. If more people were as blunt with their elected representatives we might be better represented. 0
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