Thank you for contacting me regarding our 2nd Amendment rights - U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R - Az)
Written by Ernest Hancock Subject: Gun RightsDear
G...,
Thank you
for contacting me regarding our 2nd Amendment rights, in light of President
Obama's 23 Executive Orders recently enacted. I take issue with the way in which
our President is seeking to implement these measures without consulting Congress
or the American voters. This is a calculated attempt to begin eroding our
freedom to keep and bear arms, and I will vehemently oppose any attempts to take
away those freedoms from law-abiding citizens.
The
Second Amendment to the Constitution clearly states, "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall
not be infringed." To counter
those who wish to impose restrictions and gun controls, the Second Amendment has
nothing to do with hunting. It was included – right after the First Amendment
that protects free speech – to ensure the right of citizens to oppose a
tyrannical government. The amendment does not restrict the use of certain arms,
magazines, or clips; rather it is broad in its scope – if you do not misuse your
right to the weapon, you do not have to be monitored or restricted by the
government. I have always supported this Constitutional right, and I will
continue to do so as long as I am privileged to serve in the House of
Representatives.
Sandy
Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT suffered a horrible tragedy in December
2012 when a madman went on a rampage against innocent children. As a fellow
parent, I literally cannot imagine the pain and devastation those families
experienced. Many people in the media and throughout the country immediately ran
to call for stricter gun laws – especially to ban assault weapons and high-
capacity ammunition clips. All of these people missed the point entirely: the
people behind gun tragedies should be held responsible for their reprehensible
actions. The rest of the law-abiding citizens should not have to have more of
their liberties taken away from them due to a madman's assault on human lives. We should attempt to detect these mentally unstable individuals at an earlier
time with hopes of keeping weapons out of their hands, but that should be the
extent of further government interference. (Publisher: Here is where you can insert the phrase "National Database")
It is not
government's place to meddle and handicap law-abiding citizens – especially in
an area where the Constitution has already explicitly made its case. More
citizens should even be encouraged to own weapons and to become more proficient
in the weapons they own. Criminals have always preferred and will continue to
prefer unarmed victims. Prison surveys indicate when a criminal considers
breaking into a home, the greatest deterrent, in his mind, is the fear that his
intended victims might be armed. Members of the government should not fear an
armed citizenry for this reason.
Our
country is blessed with freedoms unlike any other nation in the history of
humankind and we must defend these freedoms at every turn. I am deeply committed
to the rights of America's law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms. Our Second
Amendment is a fundamental tenet of the document enshrining basic human liberty;
and it is a freedom I have and will continue fighting to preserve. I will
therefore vote against any attempt or formal legislation to reestablish the
assault weapons ban.
It is
interesting to note that before most great tyrannies and genocides occurred in
the world, the citizens of those lands were first disarmed. We must keep a
watchful and wary eye toward anything that would take the United States down
that same path. I join those who are unable to understand how removing the right
to bear arms somehow ensures the safety of honest citizens; and I remain
committed to protecting this essential cornerstone in the foundation of human
liberty.
Again, thank you for
taking the time to contact me. I hope you will continue to inform me of the
issues that concern you. In the meantime, please feel free to visit my
website at http://www.franks.house.gov
Most Sincerely,
Trent Franks
United States Congress
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