Write your Representatives

Dear Mr. Merkley, Mr. Wyden, Mr. DeFazio, Mrs. Close, Mrs. Gelser,

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen who resides in your district and votes. With the recent tragedies in Newtown and the Clackamas Town Center, I am worried that these senseless acts of violence will be used to push legislation that will have negative effects on my Second Amendment rights.  If you have noticed, both of these incidents – along with many more similar ones – have happened in gun-free zones.  Most of the time, these cowardly shooters also break many other laws to carry out their evil deeds, ignoring everything but armed resistance. 

Passing legislation that bans standard capacity magazines will not be effective in preventing incidents like these, as the perpetrator usually carries more than one firearm and can easily reload them.  Magazine capacity is rarely a factor in a shooting.  On the other hand, magazine capacity can play a very important role during a gunfight because if one side stops shooting to reload, this leaves them vulnerable to the other side that still has the capacity to return fire. This is especially true for engagements at closer range (most concealed carry gunfights happen at this range), because the side with ammo now has an easier shot to make on a target with very little options. If standard capacity magazines are banned, it would leave the law-abiding citizen at an extreme disadvantage if they were ever involved in a gunfight.

Passing legislation banning so called “assault weapons” will also have very little effect on incidents like this, and is also unconstitutional. First of all, more homicides are committed with blunt objects like hammers and clubs than rifles.  Second, there are already close to 300 million firearms in the hands of citizens throughout the United States, many of which would fall under the cosmetic definition of an assault weapon.  Banning the sale and manufacture of new firearms will not put a significant dent in the number of guns in our country, and again would be very unconstitutional.

I would like to know what you are going to do to protect my Second Amendment rights, especially against attacks that will come in the form of an assault weapons ban and magazine capacity restrictions. 

Thank you for your time,

Lee Bissinger

My first response.

Dear Lee,

Thank you for your letter.  There have certainly been many emails in my inbox in recent weeks about guns and ammunition.  While the vast majority of letters from my district have urged greater control of guns and ammunition, I've also received letters like yours offering an alternative perspective.  It is my understanding that any gun bills this session are likely to originate in the Senate.  I will carefully weigh the policy decisions should I have the opportunity to vote.  I am keeping your letter so that I will be sure to have your words and contact information readily available to me at that time.

Many thanks again for writing.

Sara

Representative Sara Gelser

Chair, House Education Committee

House District 16 (Corvallis/Philomath)

My Second response.

Dear Lee,

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about legislation and actions being considered to address gun violence.  I appreciate hearing from you.

In the wake of the tragic mass shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary and right at home in Clackamas Town Center, I have heard a wide range of views from many Oregonians on gun policies and gun violence.  Indeed, I am deeply saddened by these senseless shootings and the loss of innocent lives.

As I consider proposed policies regarding guns, I will have two perspectives. As a supporter of the Second Amendment, I will ask if the proposals meet the constitutional test. Second, I will ask if the proposals will make a difference in the tragic situations we have witnessed.  In short, I will be digging into the facts and research about each of the proposals on the table with these perspectives in mind.

It is appropriate in light of the recent tragedies that this is a national discussion, and I'm glad you are sharing your thoughts with me.  I will keep your views in mind and hope you will keep me informed about the issues that concern you.  

All my best,

Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator