Color me surprised at her reply. He's in favor of universal checks, magazine and "assault weapon" bans, and "more research".
++++++++++++++++++++
Thank
you
for
contacting
me
about
federal
gun
policy.
I
value
your
input
on
a
topic
that
involves
fundamental
constitutional
rights
and
the
safety
of
our
families
and
communities.
The
horrific
tragedy
at
Sandy
Hook
elementary
school
in
Newtown,
Connecticut
in
December
of
last
year
has
prompted
a
national
dialogue
on
guns
and
federal
gun
policy.
Other
mass
killings
at
Fort
Hood
in
Texas;
at
a
grocery
store
in
Tucson,
Arizona;
at
a
movie
theater
in
Aurora,
Colorado;
and
in
a
place
of
worship
in
Oak
Creek,
Wisconsin
have
heightened
our
focus
on
strategies
to
reduce
gun
violence
and
save
lives.
But,
the
death
of
20
young
school
children
and
six
teachers
at
Sandy
Hook
demands
that
we
try
to
find
common
ground
to
take
action
without
violating
constitutional
rights.
A
wide
range
of
policy
options
have
been
put
forth
as
a
part
of
this
conversation.
In
January,
President
Obama
outlined
his
plan
to
reduce
gun
violence
in
the
United
States.
Additionally,
several
bills
relating
to
gun
violence
have
been
offered
in
both
Houses
of
Congress
and
Congressional
Committees
are
holding
Hearings
to
inform
the
path
forward.
In
addition
to
hearing
from
you,
it
has
been
important
to
me
to
listen
to
Wisconsinites
with
various
perspectives
on
the
issue.
To
date,
I
have
met
with
Chiefs
of
Police
from
a
number
of
communities,
family
members
of
the
fallen
at
Oak
Creek,
sportsmen
and
women,
and
researchers
seeking
to
better
understand
what
policies
can
be
effective
as
we
seek
to
reduce
gun
injury
and
death.
I
look
forward
to
gaining
additional
insight
as
we
continue
the
work
on
solutions
to
prevent
gun
violence.
Debates
over
gun
policies
often
evoke
strong
responses
because
throughout
our
policymaking,
we
must
safeguard
constitutional
rights
at
the
same
time
as
we
endeavor
to
safeguard
communities
and
combat
crime.
I
am
a
gun
owner
and
firmly
believe
in
the
Second
Amendment
and
the
right
of
law-abiding
Americans
to
keep
and
bear
arms.
I
also
believe
that,
as
the
Supreme
Court
has
ruled,
this
right
can
be
reconciled
with
reasonable,
common
sense
safety
measures.
Ever
since
passage
of
the
Brady
Act
in
1993,
federal
law
has
required
criminal
background
checks
for
certain
gun
purchases.
In
the
20
years
since
the
passage
of
the
Brady
Act
and
with
the
advent
and
widespread
use
of
e-commerce,
an
increasing
number
of
gun
sales
occur
without
a
criminal
background
check.
I
support
requiring
background
checks
on
all
gun
sales.
In
addition,
I
support
giving
law
enforcement
additional
tools
to
crack
down
on
gun
trafficking
and
the
straw
purchasers
who
help
get
guns
into
the
hands
of
criminals.
The
recent
tragedies
across
the
nation
also
give
us
reason
to
reassess
our
mental
health
system.
Most
people
with
mental
illness
will
never
become
violent.
However,
if
mental
health
treatment
and
services
were
more
readily
available,
we
would
see
fewer
people
in
situations
that
spiral
out
of
control.
I
believe
that
we
should
have
a
special
emphasis
on
young
adults,
as
most
mental
illnesses
manifest
themselves
by
the
time
a
person
reaches
young
adulthood.
I
have
previously
worked
to
ensure
mental
health
parity,
so
that
insurance
policies
cover
mental
illness
in
the
same
way
that
they
cover
physical
illness.
While
mental
health
parity
is
now
the
law,
it
has
not
been
fully
implemented
and
its
benefits
are
not
felt
by
those
Americans
who
lack
insurance
coverage.
I
support
the
President's
call
to
restore
research
funding
that
can
help
us
study
gun
violence,
gun
injury
prevention
and
gun
safety.
Limits
have
been
placed
on
such
funding
by
Congress
for
a
number
of
years,
and
it
is
high
time
those
restrictions
be
lifted.
Accurate
data
and
careful,
objective
evaluation
of
that
data
informs
better
policy.
The
President's
plan
to
reduce
gun
violence
in
the
United
States
makes
a
series
of
recommendations
that
include
instituting
a
ban
on
assault
weapons
and
high
capacity
magazines.
Each
of
these
proposals
will
get
careful
scrutiny.
Every
year
in
Wisconsin,
hundreds
of
thousands
of
Wisconsinites
go
hunting.
It
is
a
time-honored
tradition
that
is
a
part
of
our
state's
culture.
We
must
assure
that
these
proposals
do
nothing
to
inhibit
the
celebrated
sporting
heritage
of
our
state.
I
look
forward
to
reviewing
these
proposals
and
working
with
my
colleagues
to
find
common
ground,
so
that
we
can
reduce
gun
violence
in
this
country
while
protecting
everyone's
Second
Amendment
rights.
+++
Please
know
that
I
will
keep
your
thoughts
and
suggestions
in
mind
as
Congress
considers
gun
policy
legislation.
Sincerely,
Tammy Baldwin
United States Senator
++++++++++++++++++++
I am sure her definition of "gun safety" does not include the Four Rules. It sure won't involve Eddie Eagle or teaching gun safety in grade school.
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