Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts regarding gun control. It is a pleasure to hear from you.
Gun control is always a hot issue and whenever it's brought up, I know I'm in for a battle. I believe that we need to enforce current laws and provide for stiffer penalties and more aggressive prosecution for existing firearm laws. Intervention needs to take place on other fronts as well such as in homes, churches, and schools.
As you know, I don't support gun control, and since first being elected to the Senate, I have fought long and hard against all gun control legislation. I will continue to do so. The Second Amendment of the Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, yet, especially in recent times, we've seen proposals that attempt to infringe upon that right. Taking guns away from law-abiding Montanans will not do anything to deter crime.
My votes are votes cast to stave off the inevitable landslide of heavy gun control legislation that is sure to keep coming our way. All the laws in this country are no substitute for parents instilling good, solid values and morals in their children. Adults need to be responsible and set good examples, not only to children, but also to one another. As a parent myself, I know how important involvement in a child's life is.
Bottom line is that we need to protect lawful gun owners without imposing overly burdensome regulatory requirements that infringe on our Second Amendment rights. Many people in Washington have got it all wrong. The way to prevent gun violence is to take guns out of the hands of criminals, not to put a gun to the head of honest gun owners. Rest assured, I will continue the fight for our constitutional freedoms.
Thanks again for contacting me. Please don't hesitate to call or write with any other questions or concerns you may have. If you have an opportunity, please visit my web site at http://burns.senate.gov for updates on issues of importance to Montana. When you visit my web site, you can also view my most recent e-Newsletter, an e-mail report that I regularly send from Washington, and you can add your name to the subscription list if you wish.
Sincerely,
Conrad Burns
United States Senator