PA gun rights

[KiraX105]

I haven't gotten my reply from Casey or Toomey yet



February 21, 2013

Mr. A P. M

Bridgeport, PA 19405-1502

Dear Mr. M

As I work to meet the needs and priorities of our community and the nation, please know how much I appreciate having the benefit of your views. In response to your outreach to my office, I wanted to share my views regarding gun violence, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was shattering for Americans everywhere. Though my sons are grown now, my memories from their first days at school are still vivid and my thoughts and prayers remain with each of the families and neighbors affected by this tragedy.

We have seen far too many incidents of gun violence in our nation. I believe that we must seek ways to increase gun safety and end gun violence. Surely, there are actions we can take that recognize the responsibilities of gun ownership, while we do more to ensure that guns do not fall into the hands of criminals or those who are mentally ill, and that would we enhance the safety and security of our homes, schools, communities, and our public spaces.

I have long sought action to achieve these goals. I am encouraged by the recent efforts by Congress and the Obama Administration to reach out to the many factions in this debate and identify meaningful action we can take to reduce gun violence. At the initiation of the Democratic leadership in the House, there is a new House Democratic Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, chaired by my colleague Mike Thompson, (CA-05), an avid hunter and Vietnam War veteran. I am a member of the Task Force and expect to be an active member. On January 16, 2013, President Obama took executive action by signing three Presidential Memorandums that streamline parts of the federal government to trace firearms in connection with criminal investigations, improve availability records for background checks, and conduct research into the prevention of misuse for firearms after hearing recommendations provided by Vice President Biden who led The White House's gun violence task force.

Since the shooting in Newtown, I've heard from many Pennsylvanians, including hunters, police officers and others who own guns, that there is much more we can to do to prevent criminals and the mentally ill from having access to guns in order to ensure that our communities, schools, and public spaces are places of safety and security, and I agree. Specifically, I believe we should update and re-authorize the Federal Assaults Weapons Ban; enact tougher criminal penalties against straw purchasing; end the gun show loophole that enables millions of people to be able to buy guns and ammunition without a background check; and ensure that we invest in mental health programs and treatment efforts.

I am currently working with my Democratic colleagues in the House to repeal existing prohibitions on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct crucial scientific research into firearm safety. Gun violence is a public health issue and public health agencies should have the ability to develop and pursue violence prevention and mental health research. I am also a cosponsor of several bills aimed at curbing gun violence including the Gun Transparency, Accountability and Enforcement (Gun TRACE) Act, which will enable the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (AFT) to release crime gun trace data to state and local law enforcement and the public; retain records of background checks on firearm purchases for 90 days; and require inventory audits of federally licensed gun dealers to prevent the illegal transfer of guns into the wrong hands.

One of America's greatest strengths as a people and a nation is our incredible resilience, and we must use that resilience to not only grieve together, but to work together to prevent another devastating act of violence.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can help in any way.

Sincerely,



Allyson Y. Schwartz
Member of Congress

P.S. - If you would like to stay informed of my work, you can visit my website, subscribe to my eNewsletter, or 'Like' my official Facebook page.

[kcara]

I got a reply from Toomey and Casey. Casey wants the ban passed and Toomey is against it.

[jpmuscle]

Cowards, all of them. And auditing FFLs? So much for the presumption of innocence. May as well just come out and say they think all gun owners are criminals by default.

[KiraX105]

Got my reply from Toomey

February 22, 2013



Dear A,


Thank you for contacting me about gun control. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you may know, January 16, 2013, President Obama announced a variety of gun policy measures in response to the Newtown, CT killings. I therefore value knowing your views on this important issue, which is important to me as I carefully review the President's proposals. Like many Pennsylvanians, I believe that Second Amendment rights are important and must be protected, but there may be areas of agreement with the White House that can be addressed to improve public safety. I also believe that people who use guns in an illegal manner or harm others with them should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

That said, we have consistently observed that mass killings are the result of serious mental illness. We therefore need to better protect ourselves from mentally ill individuals who seek to carry out such atrocities, including improved background checks. We also need to review and improve how we take care of the mentally ill. As I continue working with my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle on public safety, please be assured that I will keep your views about firearms in mind.

Thank you again for your correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.


Sincerely,

Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

[KiraX105]

And from the guy with one eye. Oh wait, wrong Governor

Dear Friend:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with my office to express your views on the important issues related to gun violence and school safety measures.

As a former law enforcement official, I certainly understand the importance of keeping violent criminals off of Pennsylvania’s streets while upholding our unwavering commitment to protect law abiding citizen’s Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. While no additional restrictions on the rights of law abiding citizens can stop violent predators intent on committing crime, there are a number of ways my administration is working to protect our schools, keep dangerous criminals off the street and provide care for those suffering from mental illness.

I believe that it is important to ensure the safety of our students against violent criminals. That is why I have proposed to invest $1 billion in our public schools with the privatization of our wine and spirit system over the next 4 years through my Passport to Learning Program. This proposal would provide funding for local school districts to invest in initiatives designed to fit the need of each school, including security programs to protect our students.

As part of our efforts to protect Pennsylvania’s communities, I was pleased to sign HB 898 into law on October 25, 2012. This law imposes strict sentences for those who participate in straw purchasing of firearms for individuals who are legally ineligible to own a gun. This measure is critical to our ongoing efforts to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals. It is essential that we equip our law enforcement officials with the tools and resources necessary to enforce our existing laws. For this reason, I have also proposed three additional classes of state police cadets in the next fiscal year. These classes will provide up to 290 new troopers to ensure that our State Police force retains the necessary man power to protect our communities.

It is also important to note the critical role of mental health policy in ensuring the safety of our Commonwealth. In my budget address for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, I have proposed investing $40 million to provide critical services to families and individuals affected by intellectual and physical disabilities, including people with mental illnesses. This additional funding will help provide necessary care to bring services to our most vulnerable citizens and enables them to live independently, safely and productively in our communities.

Thank you again for your correspondence on this important topic. I believe the action and proposals I have laid out will help protect Pennsylvanians. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with any future questions or concerns related to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,
TOM CORBETT
Governor


The Office of Governor Tom Corbett
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: (717) 787-2500
Fax: (717) 772-8284
governor@pa.gov
www.pa.gov

[platoonDaddy]

What a dumb bitch!
Out On Limb: Matthews's 'Rising Star' Says No Right To Gun Down Classroom Of Kids In Under A Minute

Chris Matthews featured her as a "rising star," someone who with more seasoning might someday entertain a presidential run. But newly-elected Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane came across as more of a not-ready-for-prime-time-deer-in-the-headlights.

Appearing on today's Hardball, Kane came out with this mind-boggler: "I think the people of Pennsylvania would accept a limit on the amount of clips. You know, I believe and I think a lot of people feel the same way that you don't have a right to go into a classroom and take down a class of children in under a minute." Really going out on a limb there, Kathleen! View the video after the jump.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-fi...n-classroom-ki

[francis]

Cowards, all of them. And auditing FFLs? So much for the presumption of innocence. May as well just come out and say they think all gun owners are criminals by default.

NYC already thinks that.