Politician Position Statements on Gun Issues

[butchlambert]

Dear Mr. Lambert:

Thank you for contacting me regarding federal firearms laws. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

As a strong proponent of the Second Amendment, I believe it is essential to safeguard the law-abiding citizen's constitutional right to own and use firearms designed for legitimate purposes such as hunting, target shooting, collecting, and self-protection. Restricting this right runs counter to the intent of our Founding Fathers, who expressly guaranteed that citizens would retain the right to keep and bear arms.

It is encouraging that the Supreme Court has upheld the will of our Founders and re-affirmed the ideals our country was established upon. The Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller provides a greater guarantee that Americans' Constitutional rights remain secure from federal government intrusion. I was proud to sign an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in that case stating an individual’s right to bear arms is fundamental. This historic ruling continues to have implications far beyond the District of Columbia. In 2010, the Supreme Court decided in McDonald v. City of Chicago to strike down the arbitrary gun ban in Chicago—and thereby affirm that the Second Amendment safeguards against state and local encroachments on the fundamental right to keep and bear arms.

As a former Texas Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General, I have firsthand knowledge of crime-fighting policies that work, and I believe that citizens' Second Amendment rights should not be restricted because of the actions of criminals. Rather, we must focus our attention on the source of violent crime: criminals who use firearms to commit crimes. I believe that strictly enforcing the law—and meting out tougher sentences for career criminals and those who use firearms when committing crimes—will reduce crime more effectively than gun or equipment bans, which primarily serve to take firearms away from law-abiding citizens.

I appreciate the opportunity to represent Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will continue working with my colleagues to protect our Second Amendment rights. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator


517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

 

[kelbro]

Much better than the ones I get back from my flip-flopping, reach-across-the-aisle RINO senator John McCain.

Senator Jeff Flake's replies read like a true 2nd Amendment supporter but he's new on the hill. Let's see how he does.

 

[FryeGuy]

Just thought I would share this with you guys. I actually liked his response more (I don't like it all where he stands) than Mark Warners. at least I know where this guy stands, which is on the other side of the constitution, with a match in one hand and a cig lighter in the other, ready to burn it up..... Warner's email was iffy at best. I have already contacted them both twice. I guess it's time to burn up the phone lines

Dear Mr. Frye:

Thank you for contacting me to share your views on proposals to reduce gun violence. I appreciate hearing from you.

No one can deny that gun violence is a serious problem in this country today. We owe it to the victims of the growing number of mass shootings to vigorously debate specific and comprehensive proposals that can keep our communities safer. The right approach focuses on many issues - improvements to the mental health system, better security protocols and common sense rules about gun use, including keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals.

When I was on the Richmond City Council in the 1990s, our city was mired in an epidemic of gun violence that included the city having the second-highest homicide rate in the United States. The most successful step we took was implementing Project Exile, a program that involved federal prosecution and tougher penalties for gun crimes that were previously treated more leniently in state courts. Celebrated by diverse groups engaged in the gun violence debate - including the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign - the program helped drive down Richmond's homicide rate by nearly 60 percent within a few years.

In 2007, the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech revealed glaring weaknesses in campus security protocols at colleges and universities, in our mental health system and the gun background check system for gun purchases. In a bipartisan spirit, I worked with then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell to immediately improve our background check system and issued an executive order ensuring that those adjudicated to be mentally ill and dangerous would be entered into a national database and barred from purchasing weapons. We also changed standards for mental health treatment and increased funding for community health programs while dramatically improving campus security and efforts to assist college students suffering from mental stress.

In January I attended a round-table event in Richmond with Vice President Biden on gun violence, to talk about the lessons learned in Virginia and the need for a comprehensive approach to these problems. As your U.S. Senator, I will work to bring that kind of comprehensive approach that will strengthen the safety of our communities, while protecting our Second Amendment rights. As a gun owner who worked with others to constitutionally guarantee Virginians the right to hunt, I know that you can be a strong supporter of the Second Amendment without tolerating the gun tragedies that are too often a part of our daily lives.

Concerning specific proposals, I am a strong supporter of universal background record checks. This is the only way we can enforce existing laws that prohibit dangerous individuals from purchasing guns. I am open to supporting legislation placing reasonable limits on high capacity magazines, combat-style weapons and gun trafficking if they are carefully drafted.

Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as Congress continues to debate strategies to reduce gun violence. Thank you once again for contacting me.
Sincerely,



Tim Kaine

 

[284driver]

Yeah. I got it too. Scrolled through it and concluded that will be voting with his anti liberty cohorts every time. Thanks alot northern Virginia!

 

[JDMock]

You had a chance to get rid of this senator. You blew your chance! Next year, we in LA will have a chance to rid ourselves of a liberal Democrat senator by the name of Mary Landrieu. If the gun owners of America don't wake up and vote for conservative (Constitution-loving) politicians, we are doomed. James

 

[FryeGuy]

I hope you aren't thanking me in that northern Va thing....I didn't vote for the SOB, those are fighting words, just messing with ya. haha. I am originally from Rural Retreat, not far from Wytheville, so I know exactly what you are saying about northern va. I have to say I have done my best to annoy the dems and libs up here to the best of my ability. So much in fact, that my wife, who is more conservative than I am has told me to pipe it down, be quite, and as a last resort shut up, in not so nice words. I even managed to shoot a lot more deer in the backyard of our townhouse than I planned on, just in case some tree huggers needed to cry a little bit more that day about something......well enough of my rant....

I had a pretty good reply to his email, but it came back undeliverable. So I will once again go to his website, go thru the B.s. stuff, and send it that way. I had to do the same thing with warner.

their phone numbers are
kaine 202-224-4024
warner 202-224-2023

 

[fredhorace77]

and gun trafficking if they are carefully drafted.

Tim Kaine

And he fails to mention one of the biggest gun trafficking crime was committed by our own goverment ....thru Operation Fast and Furious!!!!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2011/09/28/fast-and-furious-just-might-be-president-obamas-watergate/

 

[tinkerer]

Yes, got the same reply, but at least he repiled.

Larry
Tinkerer

 

[FryeGuy]

just another "funny thing now, but not then" moments, concerning northern va.. We visited a new church sunday morning. didn't even get into the service yet, still in the early stages of announcements, and a guy gets up and makes a couple of comments about Southwest Va., and a missionary trip there. I looked at my wife, got up, and I said "lets go, I am not listening to this" and maybe a few other things not appropriate for church, which is exactly why my wife is making me go there, and she told me to sit down, and please don't make a scene. so I did, and it is good the minister spoke about what he did during the sermon. I won't go back, thou. I don't think the folks in front of or behind us on the way out the door have any doubt about how I feel either....

 

[22turborimfire]

Yep them Northern VA folks is who did Virginia in . It was going strong the opposite direction until their votes started tallying. I went to bed hooping and hollaring to later wake up with my head hung low .

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Yep...can't blame him on the western part of the state.
We tried...


Kermit

 

[FryeGuy]

I mentioned the whole "no more guns to mexico" in my reply back to him. I will get it thru one way or the other. I still can't believe how as a governor of VA, he pretty much ruined the economy, destroyed now the roads were maintained, etc. but somehow idiots have a short memory.....and yes Jim, I woke up crying and cursing. I would bet most of the votes in a just a few particular counties were full of voter fraud. that whole show an I.D to vote thing, then it would have been different. just like that lady in Ohio who is claiming she voted 6 times for obama. throw her ass in jail.

 

[22turborimfire]

I saw that on Fox the other evening omitting on public TV about voting numerous times . Where does it stop

 

[Down South]

You had a chance to get rid of this senator. You blew your chance! Next year, we in LA will have a chance to rid ourselves of a liberal Democrat senator by the name of Mary Landrieu. If the gun owners of America don't wake up and vote for conservative (Constitution-loving) politicians, we are doomed. James

I agree James, Landrieu GOTTA GO!

 

[Down South]

I saw that on Fox the other evening omitting on public TV about voting numerous times . Where does it stop

As long as the Dems win and keep power it wont stop and we keep taking it up the arse.......

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Dear Mr. Wheeler,
Thank you for contacting me about policy proposals that seek to reduce gun violence in the wake of the tragedy in Newtown.
I am a hunter an have always owned guns, and I support the Second Amendment.
But assault weapons such as AK 47s are intended for killing, not hunting.
Solutions for reducing gun violence must address many areas, from protecting law enforcement and keeping weapons out of the hands of criminals, to school safety, access to mental health services, and confronting a culture that sometimes glorifies violence.
I support reinstating the assault weapons ban and restoring the 10-round limit for ammunition magazines. And I support universal background checks so that we can know if a person buying a weapon has a criminal record.
I appreciate hearing your views on this very important issue, and will keep them in mind. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.
Sincerely,
Bill Nelson

 

[nonliberal]

One more guy that needs to go! The second amendment has never said anything about hunting!

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I mentioned the whole "no more guns to mexico" in my reply back to him. I will get it thru one way or the other. I still can't believe how as a governor of VA, he pretty much ruined the economy, destroyed now the roads were maintained, etc. but somehow idiots have a short memory.....and yes Jim, I woke up crying and cursing. I would bet most of the votes in a just a few particular counties were full of voter fraud. that whole show an I.D to vote thing, then it would have been different. just like that lady in Ohio who is claiming she voted 6 times for obama. throw her *** in jail.

In that part where you were talking about the economy and roads I could have sworn you talking about former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm! I hated that b#$%h as a governor and still do!

Mike

 

[kelbro]

And I support universal background checks so that we can know if a person buying a weapon has a criminal record.

This is what's scaring me. People actually believe that rhetoric. They have shrouded the term 'Universal Background Checks' with an omnipotence and people feel good about it.

I'm afraid that it (UBC) is going to pass...

 

[butchlambert]

February 28, 2013

Greetings,

What an incredible two months! Thank you for allowing me to update you about what I'm working on in Washington and around Texas through this newsletter.

There's nothing more important than keeping the lines of communication clear between my office and my constituents, and I'd like to use this newsletter to keep you apprised of my positions on various issues, votes I have cast, and major media appearances.

It's truly an honor to represent you and the great state of Texas in the U.S. Senate. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to do so.

Respectfully,

Ted Cruz

Swearing In

SECOND AMENDMENT

Senator Cruz has participated in two major hearings about the Second Amendment as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee about the Constitution.

Videos from both hearings have been uploaded to Sen. Cruz's YouTube page. This video includes questions Sen. Cruz asked during the Judiciary hearing about the assault weapons ban, and this video includes his opening statement at the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights hearing about how to best prevent gun violence.

Second Amendment

Policy makers should always be vigilant in working to prevent, deter, and punish violent criminals, but various gun control measures that have been proposed would restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens rather than targeting violent criminals. The Second Amendment exists to ensure that law-abiding Americans can protect their homes and families, and Sen. Cruz looks forward to helping lead the fight to defeat this bill and to protect our constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Sen. Cruz also appeared on NBC's Meet the Press with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace to discuss the Second Amendment and gun violence.

OBAMACARE

Sen. Cruz promised voters that the first bill he would file as a U.S. Senator would be to repeal every last word of the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, that President Obama signed into law on March 23, 2010. Sen. Cruz made good on that promise by introducing the bill in late January with 32 Republican cosponsors. Since it was made law, Obamcare has driven up the cost of health insurance and caused employers to drop coverage for workers. If it continues to be implemented, it will reduce the quality of healthcare, produce scarcity and rationing, and wedge government bureaucrats between patients and their doctors. Sen. Cruz will continue to work with Texans to expand coverage through effective free-market reforms and to protect the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship.

HAGEL NOMINATION

Last month, President Obama nominated former Sen. Chuck Hagel to become the Secretary of Defense. Chuck Hagel is a decorated Vietnam veteran with an honorable history fighting for his country, and Sen. Cruz commends his personal valor and sacrifice. But, after learning of Hagel's policy positions that would substantially weaken the U.S.'s posture on the world stage, Sen. Cruz felt compelled to oppose Hagel's nomination. Sen. Cruz outlined his concerns in op-eds published by Politico and USA Today. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he also participated in Hagel's confirmation hearings. Videos of his contributions to those hearings are available here and here. Two weeks ago, Hagel's nomination failed to get the 60 votes needed to proceed to confirmation. This week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid held another vote and Hagel was confirmed.

BACK HOME

NASA

Sen. Cruz had the pleasure of visiting the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas recently. There, he met with several officials and toured the Orion Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

In mid-February many of Sen. Cruz's subcommittee assignments were announced.

On the Senate's Committee on Science, Commerce, and Transportation, Sen. Cruz was named to: the Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security; the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet; the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance; the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard; the Subcommittee on Science and Space; and the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security.

On the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Cruz was named to the: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights; the Subcommittee on Bankruptcy and the Courts; the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism; and the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security.

On the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Cruz was named to the: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities; the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support; and the Subcommittee on Seapower.

OTHER VOTES AND NOTES

IMMIGRATION: A framework for comprehensive immigration reform was recently unveiled by a group of bipartisan senators, and Sen. Cruz appreciates the good work senators in both parties put into trying to fix our broken immigration system. There are some good elements in this proposal, especially increasing the resources and manpower to secure our border and improving and streamlining legal immigration. However, Sen. Cruz has deep concerns with the proposed path to citizenship. To allow those who came here illegally to be placed on such a path is both inconsistent with rule of law and profoundly unfair to the millions of legal immigrants who waited years, if not decades, to come to America legally.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT: Sen. Cruz worked in law enforcement for many years, helping lead the fight to ensure that violent criminals—and especially sexual predators who target women and children—should face the very strictest punishment. Indeed, Sen. Cruz has personally argued and successfully defended the Texas Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment law before the Texas Supreme Court, and he has repeatedly argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the very strictest punishments for rapists and violent criminals who target women and children. Nevertheless, he voted against this federal law because stopping and punishing violent criminals is primarily a state responsibility, and the federal government does not need to be dictating state criminal law.

HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF: Hurricane Sandy inflicted devastating damage on the East Coast, and Congress appropriately responded with hurricane relief. Unfortunately, cynical politicians in Washington could not resist loading up this relief bill with billions in new spending utterly unrelated to Sandy. Emergency relief for the families who are suffering from this natural disaster should not be used as a Christmas tree for billions in unrelated spending, including projects such as Smithsonian repairs, upgrades to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration airplanes, and more funding for Head Start. Two-thirds of this spending was not remotely "emergency"; the Congressional Budget Office estimates that only 30% of the authorized funds would be spent in the next 20 months, and over a billion dollars will be spent as late as 2021. This bill was symptomatic of a larger problem in Washington—an addiction to spending money we do not have. Sen. Cruz believes the United States Senate should not be in the business of exploiting victims of natural disasters to fund pork projects that further expand our debt and voted against this bill.

STATE OF THE UNION: Following the President's State of the Union Address in Congress, Sen. Cruz discussed the speech on Fox News with host Sean Hannity. Click here to view the discussion.

SOTU Response

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