Posted on 04/24/2013 3:03:06 PM PDT by rktman
Mr. X XX Reno, NV
Dear Mr. X:
Thank you for contacting me. I appreciate hearing from you.
Throughout my time in Congress, I have done all I can to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Nevadans. As a gun owner, I welcomed the Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which made clear that each and every law-abiding citizen has an individual constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Over the years it has been my firm conviction that we must work to protect this right by enforcing laws that keep guns away from terrorists and criminals, without compromising the rights of responsible gun owners.
I took note of your opposition to the recently proposed legislation to curb gun violence - the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013 (S.649), which I introduced. Specifically, I noted your disapproval of my votes on amendments such as background checks for gun purchasers, high-capacity magazines limitations, and assault weapons. I felt very strongly that there were certain areas of current gun laws that needed to be addressed in order to protect our children, families, and communities from gun violence. Please allow me to explain way I felt compelled to vote in the manner I did.
Background checks are the first line of defense in keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists. For this reason, I voted for a bipartisan expanded background checks amendment introduced by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA). The American people overwhelmingly supported this common-sense proposal, which would close gaping loopholes in the law and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and people with severe mental illnesses. Contrary to what has been maliciously reported by opponents of sensible gun legislation, the Manchin-Toomey amendment does not create a national registry of guns or gun owners. In fact, a gun registry is specifically outlawed in the legislation and carries a 15-year felony sentence for any government official found storing gun records. Ultimately, this legislation failed to gain the votes necessary for passage. I remain committed to ensuring that any bill that passes includes an expansion of background checks on firearm sales.
I also voted in favor of an amendment sponsored by Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) which would regulate large capacity feeding devices. Limiting magazine size will force shooters bent on taking human life to reload more often. When a madman walked into an Aurora, Colorado movie theater with a semi-automatic weapon and a 100-round drum, the only thing that spared many survivors was the fact that the shooter’s gun jammed. In Tucson, Arizona, a shooter emptied a 33-round clip in less than 30 seconds, killing 6 and injuring many more – including then-Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. In our home state of Nevada, a mentally ill man in Carson City went to an IHOP during the breakfast rush and killed four people. He shot nearly 80 rounds in 85 seconds, using three, 30-round clips. Limiting the size of clips won’t hurt hunters and sportsmen, but it will save lives. Unfortunately, this amendment also failed to garner enough votes for passage.
Finally, I voted in support of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) amendment to ban certain military-style weapons. As I cast my vote, I could not help but think of Staff Sgt. Ian Michael Deutch. After serving nine months in Afghanistan with his National Guard unit, Sgt. Deutch was eager to return to his day job as a police officer with the Nye County sheriff’s office. On his second day back on the job, he was shot and killed by a man with an assault weapon with a 30-round clip. Sgt. Deutch was responding to a domestic dispute at a Pahrump, Nevada casino when he was shot three times in the chest, one of the bullets having pierced his body armor. He was airlifted to Las Vegas, and rushed into emergency surgery, but he died later that night. He was 27 years old. I firmly believe in the right to own a gun, and to protect your home and family. I will continue to defend that right as long as I am serving the people of Nevada. Assault weapons have one purpose and one purpose only: to kill a large number of people in a short amount of time. Although Senator Feinstein’s amendment did not pass, I felt that I did the right thing for Nevada by voting to keep these weapons of the street.
Please be assured that I have noted your views regarding gun legislation. I will continue to use my leadership position in the Senate to help protect our school children, neighbors, and families from tragic gun violence. At the same time, I will also continue to defend the Second Amendment and to protect the interests of law-abiding gun owners throughout Nevada. Like many Nevadans, I do not believe these two concepts to be mutually exclusive, and I will keep working to that end.
Again, thank you for contacting me with your concerns. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
My best wishes to you.
Sincerely, HARRY REID United States Senator
Interestingly enough - he voted against the expanded background checks... is that what he calls “consistent”?
Stick a fork in him. I believe Harry’s done.
Sadly, as long as he’s still mobile and the unions are present in vegas, there ain’t enough folks in the rest of the state to get rid of him. BIG BUCKS. No bribery of course or “in kind” pay back.
no kidding a liar.....a 30 round clip is not what killed this young police officer. Reid is a pox on us all. Why or why do Nevadans continue his existance in the senate???
see post #4
oh I already knew that....it was more of a lamentation
Senator Reid is a mob-connected criminal. His integrity follows that profile.
That was a procedural move so he can bring it up for a vote again whenever he chooses.
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