Well, this is what I got back from Heck. I didn't expect anything but Rino dribble and that's just what I got
in the form of a pre canned response.
February 22, 2013
Dear Mr. Manning,
Thank you for contacting me to share your comments regarding proposed gun control measures. As a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights and a firearm owner myself, I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns on this important issue.
Like many Americans, I believe that we must work to prevent gun violence; however, please be assured I will not support legislative measures that infringe upon the rights of responsible, law-abiding firearms owners. Currently, all federally-licensed firearms dealers must perform a criminal background check on any individual who wishes to purchase a firearm, but as you know, some have proposed extending the background check requirement to sellers at gun shows or to individuals conducting private sales. It is important to note that under the current background check system, specific details of transactions, including the purchaser's name, firearm, or any other identifying information, are not permanently retained or stored by the federal government in any registry. I support efforts to extend the background check system to prevent firearms from ending up in the hands of criminals. I do not and will not support extending the background check system if it comes with a requirement for a federal registration of firearms. Additionally, I will strongly oppose and efforts in Congress to store any identifying personal information. I have always opposed the federal registration of firearms, and will strongly oppose any efforts in Congress to store any identifying personal information in a federal registry.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution that can completely guarantee that firearms do not end up in the wrong hands, but that should not prevent us from taking steps to prevent those who intend to do harm from obtaining firearms. In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a serious discussion on what is necessary to prevent these massacres and other senseless acts of violence has been long overdue. As Americans, I know that we are capable of such a discussion without politicizing this unthinkable tragedy. We have a responsibility to protect those most vulnerable in our society, especially children, and we must continue our efforts to keep our communities safe.
As you know, the Second Amendment allows responsible, law-abiding U.S. citizens to own firearms, though this valuable protection is not without certain commonsense limitations. Our country has important laws and systems in place to protect the public, and despite this tragedy, they have been largely effective. Millions of law-abiding gun owners should not be punished as a result of the actions of one disturbed individual, but we must make serious efforts to stop these horrible acts. A comprehensive response means preventing firearms from falling into the hands of those who would do us harm, careful examination of the root causes of these violent acts, and a serious evaluation of how we treat mental health in our country. Above all, it requires thoughtful, reasonable, and thorough discussions – and actions – to prevent these senseless tragedies from devastating our communities and our families ever again. The loss of more innocent lives is unacceptable.
Again, I appreciate your thoughts and it is an honor to serve you in Congress. Your suggestions are always welcome, and if ever I may be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
DR. JOE HECK
Member of Congress
