Thank you for contacting me to express your views on H.R. 1022, the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007. I appreciate your thoughts on this measure and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
As you know, H.R. 1022 was introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) on February 13, 2007. This legislation would reinstate repealed criminal provisions regarding so-called assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices for a period of ten years. H.R.1022 would also revise the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" to include conversion kits, which are used to change a simple firearm into any semiautomatic rifle or pistol that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine. The bill also includes special provisions for the transfer and sale of semiautomatic assault weapons. H.R. 1022 is currently being considered by the House Committee on the Judiciary.
I firmly support the right of law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms. Our Founding Fathers considered this right so fundamental that they enshrined it in the Second Amendment of our Constitution. Although well-intentioned, gun control laws often restrict the freedom of law-abiding citizens while failing to prevent criminals from obtaining guns and committing violent crimes.
As a former law enforcement officer of 33 years, I realize in a very personal sense just how dangerous weapons are in the wrong hands. Like you, I am concerned about the violence that results from criminal use of firearms, and I am dissatisfied with the high incidence of criminal possession of firearms. However, I believe the best way to deal with crime is not to limit the availability of firearms to law abiding citizens, but to enforce our laws assuring that criminals do not obtain weapons in the first place and are penalized for their misuse. These criminals must be held accountable to our laws. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to help find effective ways to prevent armed criminal activity without violating the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I value your interest and input, and hope to hear from you in the future regarding other matters of importance to you. To expedite your thoughts, I encourage you to contact me via my website at http://www.house.gov/reichert/.
Sincerely,
David G. Reichert
Member of Congress
To bad there aren't more people in Congress that agree with him on this one
As you know, H.R. 1022 was introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) on February 13, 2007. This legislation would reinstate repealed criminal provisions regarding so-called assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices for a period of ten years. H.R.1022 would also revise the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" to include conversion kits, which are used to change a simple firearm into any semiautomatic rifle or pistol that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine. The bill also includes special provisions for the transfer and sale of semiautomatic assault weapons. H.R. 1022 is currently being considered by the House Committee on the Judiciary.
I firmly support the right of law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms. Our Founding Fathers considered this right so fundamental that they enshrined it in the Second Amendment of our Constitution. Although well-intentioned, gun control laws often restrict the freedom of law-abiding citizens while failing to prevent criminals from obtaining guns and committing violent crimes.
As a former law enforcement officer of 33 years, I realize in a very personal sense just how dangerous weapons are in the wrong hands. Like you, I am concerned about the violence that results from criminal use of firearms, and I am dissatisfied with the high incidence of criminal possession of firearms. However, I believe the best way to deal with crime is not to limit the availability of firearms to law abiding citizens, but to enforce our laws assuring that criminals do not obtain weapons in the first place and are penalized for their misuse. These criminals must be held accountable to our laws. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to help find effective ways to prevent armed criminal activity without violating the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I value your interest and input, and hope to hear from you in the future regarding other matters of importance to you. To expedite your thoughts, I encourage you to contact me via my website at http://www.house.gov/reichert/.
Sincerely,
David G. Reichert
Member of Congress
To bad there aren't more people in Congress that agree with him on this one
